#barovian tales

[barovianchickenandwaffles]

Barovian Tales: Gary’s Birthday

(Dedicated to @bluetspur-brain )

So, there I was one slow February morning when I spied Gary, my High-Master Illithid / barista, with his back turned to me, working on something in secret.

When your disloyal, scheming Illithid employee has their back turned to you, working on something in secret, that is rarely a good sign. I fished out my trusty silvered dagger and approached cautiously.

Gary was so occupied that he did not notice me until I prodded his back with the knife and whispered harshly, “what are you working on, Gary?”

Gary started and turned around, facial tentacles flailing nervously. That’s when I saw it: the crappiest, brain-shaped birthday cake I had ever seen.

I stared puzzled for a moment. My birthday was supposedly in September, or so my parents told me. That could only mean one thing…

“Gary, is it your birthday?”

The Illithid telepathically sent a sheepish “yes” to my mind.

I lowered the knife. “I had no idea you had a birthday. I thought you were planning my downfall.”

“Not today,” said Gary in my mind nonchalantly.

I paused. “I am surprised you remember your birthday. I thought all your memories were erased by the God Brain’s mindless collective in Bluetspur.”

The gentle, soothing voice replied back in my mind. “My distance from the collective has allowed some of my previous memories as a tadpole to surface as well as my ceremorphosis.”

Gary shared some brief telepathic images: swimming in the brine pool of the God Brain, followed by his takeover of a drow warrior’s body and excruciating transformation. I quickly shut that part out of my mind. “Sorry,” apologized Gary, “I’ll fast-forward that part.”

Too late, there went my breakfast.

Later, I said, “well even in a crappy place like Barovia birthdays are worth celebrating. We should have a birthday party.”

A couple rooms over I could hear Viktor’s ghostly voice moaning, “you never celebrated my birthday.”

“Quiet, you!”

I scrounged some party supplies from around town, bribed a local Vistana band to play at our shop for the night, and enticed some customers to stay around by promising 1/2 off a second topping with the purchase of any Uncle Oleksii meal.

In no time at all, we had a birthday party for Gary. His “brain cake” tasted every bit as awful as you can imagine (chocolate frosting did not help), and everyone kept a safe distance from Gary, but for once Barovian Chicken and Waffles wasn’t entirely a depressing place.

Later, we asked Gary to give a speech.

Gary floated on top of a table and said, “I am an Illithid of few words, and not very good at speeches, but here goes.”

Suddenly a rainbow colored flash like a funnel or cone of energy projected from his mind and we all blacked out.

When I came to, I saw Gary devouring the cranium of a customer. In my most sitcom voice, I said, “Gaaarrryyyy!!!”

Somewhere in the distance, one could hear the cruel, canned laughter of the Dark Powers …

Later, as our ogre zombie dishwasher cleaned up the shop and disposed of the evidence, it was time to wind down and prepare for the next shift. I said to Gary, “you know, you’re the most conniving and untrustworthy employee I have, but happy birthday anyway!”

I felt a wave of joy emanate from Gary.

At that moment, a party of men dressed in strange, black suits, red cravats, and each carrying square-shaped leather briefcase entered the shop.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” said Gary in my mind, “while you were unconscious I sold the shop to something called a ‘shell company’ from the ‘America’ demiplane. I made a tidy profit. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Gaaarrryyyy!!!”

(pause, Seinfeld style credits roll)

[barovianchickenandwaffles]

Agreed.

me, on my posts: *writes as little info as humanly possible* 

me, in the tags: so anyway, all my problems started on a hot summer day in the late 90′s, when i was born… 

[barovianfinewines]

Barovian Folk Tales & Rhymes

“The Vampire Song”

(after “Snow Beast,” by Leslie Fish)

Note: “Snow Beast” is from the Mercedes Lackey filk album Oathbound, arranged and performed by Cecilia Eng, a recording of which can be heard here.

I'm DMing Curse of Strahd and I love trickling out setting information to my players through stories and poems. This was too perfect not to adapt. Kids gotta learn that you can't just let strangers willy-nilly into your house, or they may eat you and everyone you know!!

Children playing in the wood Farther than they know they should Saw a stranger walking near Never stopped to think nor fear Skin like ice, eyes that gleam Things aren't always what they seem Nails too sharp, teeth too long Look for what you know is wrong! “O my dears,” the woman plead “I'm all alone and chilled near dead These woods aren't safe for one to roam Won't you take me to your home?” Stands too still, moves too fast No shadow nor reflection cast Pointed ears, pointed grin Look before you let them in! Despite her cold, unblinking stare She seemed so nice, she spoke so fair Foolish children did not question They forgot a vital lesson Skin like ice, eyes that gleam Things aren't always what they seem Nails too sharp, teeth too long Look for what you know is wrong! They did not wait to find a guard They led her straight to their own yard They did not think to ask their kin They brought her home and let her in Stands too still, moves too fast No shadow nor reflection cast Pointed ears, pointed grin Look before you let them in! Once she was within, surprise! She cast away her human guise Fangs grew long, claws sprang free A ravenous vampire was she! Skin like ice, eyes that gleam Things aren't always what they seem Nails too sharp, teeth too long Look for what you know is wrong! All that night down every street She stalked and slaughtered all she'd meet When sun peeked o'er the ridge too late The town had met a grisly fate Stands too still, moves too fast No shadow nor reflection cast Pointed ears, pointed grin Look before you let them in! For pretty words and pretty wiles Pretty looks and pretty smiles Those folks were slain and scattered all Because they let their caution fall Skin like ice, eyes that gleam Things aren't always what they seem Nails too sharp, teeth too long Look for what you know is wrong! Stands too still, moves too fast No shadow nor reflection cast Pointed ears, pointed grin Look before you let them in!

Note: The vampire "tells" listed in this rhyme are mostly taken directly from 2nd edition Ravenloft sources. In my game, they are mostly allusions to true, valid tells, though reality is of course more complex than the song would make it seem.

In the novel I, Strahd, Strahd disguises his nature by either wearing gloves or trimming down his long, sharp nails, and by combing his hair to cover the pointed tips of his ears, and doing literally nothing else. Yeah, he parts his hair differently and calls it a day. Fwiw at that point he's basically an infant (only in his 90s!) and gives precious few fucks. This is all in concordance with his writeup in Realm of Terror.

Van Richten's Guide to Vampires lists the most notable tells as cold, unnaturally pale/ashen skin (the color of which can be disguised by makeup or magic, or explained away by some rationalization such as chronic illness or an aversion to being out in the sun with the peasants) and the absence of a reflection (in any reflective surface, not just mirrors).

VRGtV takes great pains to note that vampires have teeth nearly identical to our own, perhaps to frustrate genre-savvy players. Realm of Terror, on the other hand, takes great pains to note that vampires (or, Strahd, at the very least) have ~retractable fangs~ which lengthen when "aroused or attacking." So, make of that what you will.

(In the interest of thoroughness, Realm of Terror also waxes quite poetic about Strahd's eyes: "dark and hypnotic, like deep pools with subtle reflections of red light, [which] when he is aroused or enraged... burn like red hot coals." So, make of that what you will. For better or for worse I've got a folder in my head for weird 90s vampire lore that's labeled "arousal.")

[thefruitypebblescastleoftorment]

Barovian fairy tales don't often have explicit morals. For most of them, the unspoken moral of the tale is "life is cruel."

[moldwood]

barovian vistani energies 🫦

[saladcannibal]

Thought I'd share some more thoughts on the Abbot and Vasilka, and the some of the things we're doing in our campaign! So anyway, my DM is using some of the widely circulated homebrew for the Abbot, wherein he harvests body parts from living donors and gives them bestial replacement limbs in exchange. His true form is something similar to a shoggoth, but instead of being a tentacle horror, it's an ever-shifting amalgamation of various beasts and animals, with limbs sprouting and decaying at a rabid rate. I believe it's these parts that he harvests from himself to "gift" to his patients? Originally, I was going to lean into the "Little Red Riding Hood as monster slayer" trope with Vasilka, as that particular fairy tale is one of my favorites of all time, and dovetails nicely with the image of St. Markovia as depicted slaying wolves in many of her portraits. I was going with the idea that the Abbot gave Vasilka a wolf's heart instead of a human one, for undisclosed reasons, and that would be the source of her barbarian abilities. Possibly with some limbs donated from lycanthropic patients to explain the ability to shift certain body parts, but not her entire form. Path of the Beast operates similarly to Pathfinder shifters, in that respect. I thought it would be cool to sort of illustrate how she's really not so different from the other patients in the Abbey, she just has the ability to conceal her more "monstrous" appearance, that's all. Making some subtle nods to the Puma Lady from The Island of Dr. Moreau. (And what is the Abbey if not The Island of Dr. Moreau, but with more fantasy Catholicism thrown in?) I think it's interesting how in the module as written, a not insignificant portion of Kresk's population truly believe that the Abbot is actually Strahd in disguise, and he's playing at shepherd just to fuck with them all. Which isn't true, but since Strahd IS fucking with the Abbot (however you wish to interpret that), then he is, by extension, still kinda fucking with Kresk. So I like the idea of the Abbot as "wolf in sheep's clothing," even if it's not being done in a malicious way. Nothing he ever does is truly malicious, no matter how fucked up it is, but you know what they say: "The path to hell is paved with good intentions." I just like the idea that the "wolf in sheep's clothing" trope can work on several levels. One being that no one is supposed to know that the Abbot is actually a deva. The other is that almost no one knows what a deva actually looks like. I think most Barovians WOULD picture them as unearthly beautiful, winged humans, but in actuality they're these eldritch horrors that would probably cause most humans to go mad or instantly die of fright if they ever looked upon a deva's true form. Anyway, all this to say that I love how basically 90% of tables go with Biblically Accurate Angel for the Abbot's true form, and that everyone should add more Bloodborne to their CoS games! Keep up the good work!

Thought I'd share some more thoughts on the Abbot and Vasilka, and the some of the things we're doing in our campaign!

His true form is something similar to a shoggoth

[looks this up] oh yeah, that tracks. he would look like that.

I believe it's these parts that he harvests from himself to "gift" to his patients?

:) Doing his part!

Originally, I was going to lean into the "Little Red Riding Hood as monster slayer" trope with Vasilka, as that particular fairy tale is one of my favorites of all time, and dovetails nicely with the image of St. Markovia as depicted slaying wolves in many of her portraits.

IT DOES IT DOES

the Abbot gave Vasilka a wolf's heart instead of a human one, for undisclosed reasons

Better for us not to know why honestly

Possibly with some limbs donated from lycanthropic patients to explain the ability to shift certain body parts, but not her entire form. Path of the Beast operates similarly to Pathfinder shifters, in that respect.

Oooh 👁️👁️

I thought it would be cool to sort of illustrate how she's really not so different from the other patients in the Abbey, she just has the ability to conceal her more "monstrous" appearance, that's all. Making some subtle nods to the Puma Lady from The Island of Dr. Moreau. (And what is the Abbey if not The Island of Dr. Moreau, but with more fantasy Catholicism thrown in?)

I LOVE. And you're so right haha

I think it's interesting how in the module as written, a not insignificant portion of Kresk's population truly believe that the Abbot is actually Strahd in disguise, and he's playing at shepherd just to fuck with them all.

To the point that VR's Guide to Ravenloft mentions the people think he's Strahd. [puts my head in my hands] Mr. Abbot you've really made a mess of things.

Which isn't true, but since Strahd IS fucking with the Abbot (however you wish to interpret that)

Thank you for anticipating exactly where my mind went 😂

So I like the idea of the Abbot as "wolf in sheep's clothing," even if it's not being done in a malicious way. Nothing he ever does is truly malicious, no matter how fucked up it is, but you know what they say: "The path to hell is paved with good intentions."

👏👏👏

I just like the idea that the "wolf in sheep's clothing" trope can work on several levels. One being that no one is supposed to know that the Abbot is actually a deva. The other is that almost no one knows what a deva actually looks like. I think most Barovians WOULD picture them as unearthly beautiful, winged humans, but in actuality they're these eldritch horrors that would probably cause most humans to go mad or instantly die of fright if they ever looked upon a deva's true form.

Anyway, all this to say that I love how basically 90% of tables go with Biblically Accurate Angel for the Abbot's true form, and that everyone should add more Bloodborne to their CoS games! Keep up the good work!

THANK YOU!

[menzoberra]

It has already been a few days since we killed Strahd and Inej. Inej that one — her betrayal was not a shock. I would have killed her myself long, long ago if it were up to me. Adonis has gone back to Daggerford already. I tried to protect him. However, Strahd and Inej’s grasp on him grew too strong for him to see reason. Now that he is heading home, free from their influence, maybe one day he will see reason. There are many back home that understand and recognize the danger of Strahd and his minions. What he had done that day though is unforgivable… And I know we will be slow to forgive — that is, if we forgive at all.

The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind is better off in my hands.

We are making swift work of securing Ravenloft. Ireena and Ismark left to secure the village of Barovia. It is their home after all, and Ismark is to be the next burgomaster. Ireena looks brighter already. Ismark still has worry on his face — no doubt, his worries did not end with the death of Strahd. Nevertheless, I have never seen him so light. He has a pep in his step that was never there before. At least, not that I have been around to witness.

The danger is not over yet — it has only transformed. Once things are more stable, we will be tracking down the Amber Temple and Tome of Strahd. Whatever it is that gave Strahd his power will not rest until it has found a successor. I have heard tales in my years of demiplanes of dread ridding themselves of these dark powers for good — we can certainly do the same for Barovia. Ismark already has a lead from his time in the captivity of the traitor’s brother.

After we are done here, we will be heading to Vallaki to clean up the mess there. Now that Strahd is gone, there will surely be a power vacuum. After Vallaki is all said and done, it will be off to Krezk for us. I feel Darvin is getting lonely up there all by himself. He would fare well to hear of our recent achievement. And rest easy knowing that Strahd and Inej are dead. His sword rests in a hilt on my hip. He would be happy hearing that it was used to kill the traitor. I know Rex and Tarell have their own things to say to him as well.

Argynvostholt is on the list next. With Strahd’s death, I am certain the restless spirits of the order haunting the keep have already moved on — and with that, my parents. We will scour Argynvostholt for anything useful in our upcoming quest.

Until then, I am tired and I must sleep. Resting without being on guard is not something I am used to yet again.

—Menzoberra the Barovian

[syrips]

escher got tired of being ignored by strahd and used divine intervention to be blessed by the mists to remain a permanent Large sized creature. upon his celebration a large turtle thing who was also a Large sized creature got very upset, and demanded a rap-off to see who has the best rhythm, in order to be proclaimed "the MC", also known as the Massive Creature of barovia. while they did their barovian rap off with folk tales and local barovian dances, someone rushed up to escher and said 'oh i am your number one fan, here is a magical microphone!' and handed escher a magical flame that acts like a microphone and boosts eschers voice.

this caused a riot as a blue tiefling and their kangaroo-dragon companion rushed in and brought in magical speakers, blasting the area with incredible rhythm that even the six blind women rushed in to join the dance. this caused two more people to rush in, curious about the debacle.

all was fun and games, until the camera cuts to strahd, who is very sad, watching from afar.

he was not invited.

CoS fandom, I need you to give me an explanation of what's going on here (only wrong answers)

[raeynbowboi]

Building an Embodiment of the Fairytale Princess (2.0)

This is nothing new. I’ve done this build before, which I’ll link right [here]. The post did really well, and people seemed to love the concept. However, since then, Mythic Odysseys of Theros and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything have both come out, bringing with them not only new subclasses, but new features, spells, mechanics, and elements that I couldn’t take into consideration the first time around. So, I decided that rather than just adding a tag on post like I did before, I’d just remake the build with the new features being taken into consideration. Like before, the focus of the build is to create an embodiment of the generic fairytale princess and not any one particular character. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Like before, we’ll be choosing Variant Human for our race of choice. We’ll channel Sleeping Beauty to be gifted by the fey with blessings of Beauty, Grace, and Song for +1 CHA, +1 DEX, and Performance proficiency. We also get a bonus feat, and thanks to Tasha’s, we can now take Fey Blessed for +1 CHA. However, if she doesn’t cast with Charisma, then substitute those CHA bonuses with Wisdom instead.

The generic fairytale princess is a maid of purest heart, so we’re Lawful Good. But for your more rebellious princesses, Neutral Good or Chaotic Good are also valid.

Background is obviously Noble for proficiency with History and Persuasion.

CLASSES & SUBCLASSES

BARD

This one seems pretty obvious. Bards love to sing and dance, like your stereotypical princess. Because Charisma is their top stat, and they have expertise, it can make them great negotiators, and allow them to excel in dialogue interactions.

GLAMOUR

This college is very fitting for a fairytale princess, as it is focused on making oneself as beautiful and charming as the Fairest of Them All.

LORE 

Lore bards share information, whether they tell stories, recite plays, share philosophy, or spread juicy gossip, the Lore Bard gets more magical secrets, and added expertise to make your princess an even bigger Mary Sue. In actual medieval history, princesses often learned to play instruments and sing, recite prayers or poems, or tell stories to visiting guests, and it was considered a part of her education and duty to do so.

CLERIC

While not every princess is a devout religious girl, their stories tend to be set in the medieval period when a good princess would have been expected to be chaste and pious. So on that front, worshiping a good deity would be befitting of such a character.

LIFE

The fairytale princess raises up those they care about, and nothing is more supportive and helpful than keeping your friends on their feet. The Life Cleric turns your princess into a kind soul who weeps for her friends and patches them up after the battle, turning your princess into a useful ally against the wicked witches and dangerous dragons.

LIGHT

Not all Fairytale Princesses are passive or support players. Those who lean toward Light are the princesses who stand as the Big Good of their story and battle the forces of Darkness with the power of the Light. Of the three Cleric options that fit the archetype, this is the best option for being a powerhouse in combat.

PEACE

Don’t get me wrong, I still hate this domain for wearing the skin of the Love Domain we were supposed to get, and you can absolutely still play it that way. How this domain went from Love to Togetherness to Pacifism is beyond me, but it’s a fairly strong subclass. The classic princess archetype is supposed to be gentle and kind, fitting for one who worships a god of mercy and forgiveness. It’s a value often toted as the strongest characterization of the early Disney princesses.

DRUID

My first time building the fairytale princess, I ignored Druid as an option because the wildshaping didn’t really make sense for a fairytale princess, but a lot of the Bardic Magical Secrets were used to steal Druid spells. However, thanks to the optional rules from Tasha’s, Druids can now use their Wildshape to summon fey that take on the shapes of animals instead of turning into the animals themselves, which makes Druid far more viable, as summoning animals is very in-character for a fairytale princess.

DREAMS 

The Circle of Dreams has heavy Fey associations with references to the Summer Court ruled by Titania. It also is strongly focused on healing, and has a very Fairy Tale flavor to it. It’s an especially great option if you want to invoke Sleeping Beauty, as you can cloak your party while you sleep and send messages to people through your dreams.

SHEPHERD

The fairytale princess is strongly associated with animal buddies, and nothing makes better use of that than the Shepherd Druid, which focuses on amassing an army of critters. What’s more, the Unicorn Totem is very fitting, not only because Unicorns only approach maidens with pure hearts, but Shepherds of the Unicorn Totem get empowered healing.

SORCERER

The sorcerer is born with a spark of something special in them, and a lot of fantasy royalty have magical powers that other people in their world lack.

DIVINE SOUL

The princess doesn’t literally have to be the descendant of the gods, as the original name for the subclass was more about being favored by the gods. Still, if you want to lean into the idea of the princess as the Big Good against the Big Bad, then having her be born with the spark of the gods inside her makes for a neat characterization.

WILD MAGIC 

With the new Sorcerer Shards as I’ve come to call them, we were introduced to the Feywild Shard, which was heavily geared toward Wild Magic Sorcerers, which seems to be WoTC’s way of saying that Wild Magic Sorcerers are the fey-linked sorcerous origin, so I’m including it because of our fey connection. 

WARLOCK

This is the only class where there’s exactly one good option, but it’s one that works surprisingly well.

ARCHFEY 

As a Warlock with a Pact of the Chain, your fairytale princess can choose to Find Familiar any cute little animal companion, or a Sprite to be your Fairy Godmother. Or rather, you can sign a pact with your Fairy Godmother, and use your Chain Pact to summon one of her emissaries to help you. The Archfey patron themselves can act as your Fairygodther, granting you and your party boons and aid where they need it.

WARLOCK INVOCATIONS

Agonizing Blast Armor of Shadows Beast Speech Eldritch Mind Eldritch Sight Gift of the Ever-Living Ones Shroud of Shadow Voice of the Chain Master

CHARISMA vs WISDOM

The big split in how you build your princess falls down the line between these two camps. The wise princess works better as a Druid/Cleric, while a charming princess is more of a Bardlock. For me personally, as much as the Cleruid fits the fairytale princess, the stereotype of the princess is usually that she is gullible, naïve, and overly trusting. Insight is a wisdom check, and something the classic princess archetype is usually bad at. Granted, Animal Handling is also Wisdom, but the Bard’s expertise can overrule a low Wisdom score. Think of it like a clash between Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda vs Princess Peach from Mario. Princess Zelda is wise and is much more focused on leadership and protecting her kingdom. Peach is more about the pretty dresses and having servants help her. They’re two very different camps on the princess archetype. Ultimately, which one you choose will depend on the type of princess you wish to invoke. The Classic Damsel or the Wise Matriarch.

SIDEKICKS

A new feature added in Tasha’s, sidekicks are secondary characters that can help the party and are basically simplified character builds with fewer bells and whistles. There are three main camps:

Expert. Experts are clever and knowledgeable, be they minstrels, librarians, pickpockets, merchants, or assassins. They can pick proficiency with DEX, INT, or CHA saving throws, and can be proficient or an expert with any five skills of your choice, and humanoids also gain proficiency with light armor, simple weapons, and two tools of your choice.

Spellcaster. Trained in the secrets of the Arcane, be they a priest, a fortuneteller, or a magical creature. They can choose proficiency with INT, WIS, or CHA checks, and can be proficient in Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Performance, Persuasion, or Religion. They choose a roll to determine their spell list: Mage (Wizard), Healer (Cleric, Druid) or Prodigy (Bard, Warlock). The sidekick has access to the spell list of the classes their role aligns with, as well as casting with that stat.

Warrior. trained fighters, be they a soldier, a city guard, a trained animal, or a hired sword. They can pick proficiency with STR, DEX, or CON saving throws, and their skill options are Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival. Warriors can pick a fighting style: either Offensive to add +2 to attack and damage rolls, or Defender to impose disadvantage on hitting creatures other than them while within 5 feet of the princess.

Generic Princess Sidekicks

Humanoid Guard Warrior (bodyguard) Humanoid Commoner Expert (handmaiden, governess, etc.) Humanoid Magewright Spellcaster (court mage, or advisor) Any Beast-type Warrior (animal companion)

Fairytale Inspired Sidekicks

Seven Dwarves - Dwarf Warrior Fairy Godmother - Sprite or Pixie Spellcaster Prince Charming - Humanoid Noble Warrior Wicked Witch - Barovian Witch Spellcaster Beast - Gnoll, Jackalwere, Orc, or Troglodyte Warrior Puss in Boots - Awakened Cat or Tabaxi Warrior The Frog Prince - Awakened Frog or Grung Warrior Three Little Pigs - Awakened Pig Expert, Spellcaster, & Warrior Big Bad Wolf - Wolf Warrior or Awakened Wolf Expert Robin Hood - Redbrand Ruffian or Bandit Expert Djinn of the Lamp - Dust, Ice, or Magma Mephit Spellcaster Pinocchio - Giant Stone Statue Warrior White Rabbit - Awakened Rabbit Expert Cheshire Cat - Awakened Cat Expert or Spellcaster

There is no actual limit to the number of sidekicks your character can have, so in theory, your fairytale princess could have an entire posse of talking animals hanging out and helping her.

Skills, Spells, and Features

As a Variant Human, we got Performance proficiency alongside our Fey Touched feat, and as a Noble, we have proficiency with Persuasion and History. For everything else, we’re just looking to be a standard Fairytale Princess. So we should look to be proficient with: Animal Handling, Arcana, Religion, Nature, or Medicine.

BASIC FAIRIES

Dancing Lights Faerie Fire Healing Spirits Spirit Guardians Summon Fey Conjure Woodland Beings Conjure Fey

BASIC PRINCESS THINGS

Animal Friendship Command Heroism Speak With Animals Animal Messenger Calm Emotions Find Steed Warding Bond Zone of Truth Conjure Animals Mord’s Magnificent Mansion

SNOW WHITE

Armor of Agathys Mirror Image Beacon of Hope Aura of Purity Heroes’ Feast

CINDERELLA

Fabricate Creation True Polymorph Wish

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Sleep Phantasmal Killer Dream Wall of Thorns Dream of the Blue Veil

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Charm Person Shatter Suggestion Tidal Wave Compulsion Control Water Dominate Person Maelstrom Control Weather Tsunami Storm of Vengeance

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Charm Monster Unseen Servant Tiny Servant Animate Objects Awaken Hold Monster Summon Fiend

Last time I built the fairytale princess, I gave her exactly 1 build. 18 levels of glamour bard and 2 levels of Archfey Warlock. But recently I’ve begun to instead put more stock in leaving builds open, showing instead the options that a player has to choose from. So, for this update, I’m not pushing for a specific build. I’ve laid out the appropriate spells, and the types of princesses that a player can strive to emulate with their spell lists. Consider this more of a guide to help you decide how you want to play your fairytale princess.

[rahadaddy]

Ismark: lilac + chrysanthemum

HCs about NPCs: Saturday Game Edition | Accepting!

lilac :   what was your muse’s childhood like ? how has their upbringing affected them as they’ve aged ?

The village of Barovia is no place to bring up children - it is a place to bring up warriors, if you are lucky. Ismark was lucky. The son of the burgomaster, one of the few remaining barons in the valley of Barovia, he was tutored in letters, numbers, government, and swordplay. He had one younger sister, Ireena, who was his best friend and one of the few children in the village with whom he could spar and play and talk. He would not call it a lonely childhood, but it was. The Kolyanaviches wanted to keep their children safe from the Devil Strahd and, in the end, might have failed. This means that though Ismark trained with a blade for many years and dreamed of cutting down the tyrant himself, that outcome seems doubtful. This means that though Kolyan wanted his son to be a great leader after him, the people began calling Ismark "the Lesser" before he was put into the ground. This means that Ismarks adulthood has been spent knowing he is no match for the Count when it comes to keeping his sister safe. He was raised to hold impossible goals and dreams dear to his heart and the older he's gotten, the more bitter he has become. He has fought hard not to despair as other Barovians do and crawl into a bottle, but, well... the party meets Ismark in a tavern for a reason and it isn't that this is D&D and all great quests begin there.

The weight of leadership weighs heavily on Ismark in ways echoed throughout a valley of young leaders, but perhaps in a special way, too. Of the new generation of burgomasters, he rules the kingdom most full of ghosts. Barovia Village is described in the book as a place full of wailing and zombies and boarded doors and windows. In my game, it is where the Blood Tax takes the bloody form of The Purge as Volenta and her army descend upon villagers, scenting out souled Barovians to bleed dry. The people, even the sun-touched souls, are less a community than in Vallaki or Krezk than a sheep pen of livestock who know they are safer from wolves in numbers. What is Ismark meant to do with that? His father had a good rule until his last days, but though those last days were at most four weeks ago, people are already discussing Kolyan's failings and Ismark's. And now that Ismark has disappeared from Barovia Village, I'm sure many argue that he truly was too soft to rule and not the swordsman his father had hoped. If they knew where he was, what he was doing, I think his people would either praise it as the savviest political move they've yet seen or else mark it as the end of the line and remind each other that Ismark the Lesser was always a fool with foolish ambitions. If Doru could not take on the Devil and live, why should Ismark? I think if Barovia Village could have had its way, they would have installed Ireena Kolyana as burgomaster and bid her marry Doru Donavich because they had inspiring, passionate, sun-touched souls that outshone Ismark's quieter, but still sun-touched nature. Ismark knew he did not shine like his sister and that even as a child, his community dreaded the day he led them, but they accepted him as Kolyan's heir and that would be sufficient and they would pray that the Morning Lord could guide him since Ismark Kolyanavich was fashioned to be second to others, not their leader. He watched people and understood them, especially his people and the adventurers passing through their gates, and he understood them all too well. He was not the inspiring leader his father was, who could protect Barovia Village through ravaging Blood Taxes. He was not his mother who was valued for her beauty and gentle spirit. He was not his passionate sister, who was odd and wondrous and plucked from the brightest pages of a fairy tale. He was not the headstrong son of a priest, who would claim the right hand of a foreign wizard to lay siege to Ravenloft. He was Ismark - just Ismark on a good day and Ismark the Lesser when people thought he couldn't hear. He channeled his childish dismay into sword fighting and research of the history of Barovia and into art. He became good at it all. He has read and dreamed of great battles and has practiced with any manner of sword or shield he could lay his hands upon. He is a deadly fighter, a wealth of knowledge, and a thoughtful man. He has a talent, an appreciation, and a love for art and even knows how to make his own paints and dyes from Barovian plantlife. His mother was a painter - Barovia village's last.

Truthfully, Ismark takes after his and Ireena's mother and Ireena takes after their father. Though Ismark and Ireena are both talented fighters, Ismark would rather make art as his mother taught him and Ireena to, and Ireena would be better off carving up vampire spawn. He's a good and sensitive man and there is a streak of hardness and battle in him that he swears up and down is simply his destiny. Is it, Ismark? It may also be of interest to note that Lady Karelova-Indrevna was the last mortal to go to Castle Ravenloft to paint its inhabitants and return unscathed. Perhaps Ismark's ability to survive there this long speaks to some inner strength, some teaching of his mother's, or something else altogether. He, like his mother, is calm, reserved, and enjoys the little pleasures of life with immense gratitude. He learned from her to be brave and to enjoy the little things because the world is full of big evils and tomorrow is no guarantee, Isya, so we must live today and thank the gods for the good.

chrysanthemum :   how does your muse express romantic love ? how do they feel about love as a concept ?

I don't think Ismark has ever really carved out time for romantic love. I think he wishes he could have - could still - but such wishes are neither here nor there, given his current predicament. As I said, he is a sensitive soul, an artist, and a fighter. He would see romance as an extension of these things. He'd want to take care of his lover, provide for them, and protect them while creating little reminders of the beauty in the world for them. I think he would absently sketch the object of his affections with the tenderest care, but insist that, truthfully, how he will show his devotion is by protecting them from all of Barovia's horrors. I think if he was softer, he'd fancy himself a white knight, but this is Barovia. He's not softer. He's practical. Providing for one's lover and protecting them from all the horrors of a Barovian night is how one shows love. Art is how one may woo in a world where beauty is hard to find. There are few he wants to woo if anyone at all.

Love is not something that he has had the luxury of indulging in, as I've said. He has always known that as the future (now current) burgomaster of Barovia, he would have to take a wife to carry on the family line. It would be nice to love his wife romantically, but he does not think that that's strictly necessary, as there is no guarantee his wife would have a soul or be a romantic match. He expects marriage to be political and, indeed, I do think he half-expects to marry Rozaliya Krezkova, who is barely more than a child, so he does not expect a grand romance with her. Therefore, he's not opposed to looking beyond the marriage bed for romantic companionship, but, again, he has been so preoccupied since Strahd began his assault on the family home that neither romance nor sex has been at the forefront of his mind.

I think if you were to ask him at the dinner how he feels about romantic love, he would either not know how to respond or have a complicated and possibly uncomfortable answer.

[barovianchickenandwaffles]

The Lost Manuscript: another Barovian Tale

(Dedicated to @darklordazalin )

So, there I was one night hauling trash to the heap out back behind BCnW, when a looming shadow rose from behind it. Now, as any Barovian knows, looming shadows arising from behind are bad.

But instead of some nameless horror, it was a young man in a black, uniform, stained with much blood. His own.

He collapsed in a heap, on the heap, and reached out to me. “Please,” he said weakly.

“Sorry, pal, no refunds.”

“No, my name is Domran, and I am a junior officer with the Kargat.”

Aww, crap, it was the fuzz. What did I do this time? I paid Rahadin’s last kickback on time.

Wait, the Kargat serve Lord Azalin, or as we Barovians are commanded to call him, “Stupid Face Jerk Nerd”.

“What does Stupid Face—, er, Lord Azalin want here?”

Domran the Kargat agent explained, “We Kargat agents were dispatched to Barovia to retrieve a copy of a manuscript called The Lord of the Necropolis.”

“That’s everywhere. Where do you think I get such a steady supply of toilet p-, er, reading material at BCnW?”

“No!” gasped Domran, “this one is different. It is said that this is a lost manuscript with an alternate ending, one that contains some hidden secret. Lord Azalin dispatched us to find it.”

I nodded, “cool story, bruh, but nothing like that here.”

“Please,” he said with his last breath, “help me complete my mission. Lord Azalin would no doubt be grateful.”

Well, I had always wanted to expand into Darkon. My ventures in Sithicus and Falkovnia were both spectacular failures. But this time, I could not fail.

“You got it, Donnie.”

“Domr—“ he gasped as he died.

After disposing the body in the heap, I returned to the shop.

“Gary, you’re in charge for a while.”

Gary, the High-master Illithid / barista waved his facial tentacles for a moment. “Looking for that lost manuscript, boss?” came a smooth, unnerving voice in my head.

Great. That’s what happens when you hire a powerful psychic monster as your hardworking, but traitorous employee.

“I pulled from his mind clues to help in your search,” he continued in my head, “it seems there is a ruined monastery hidden on the cliff side beneath Krezk. It is perilous to retrieve it.”

“The only thing in peril is your salary,” I said audibly, “if you don’t mind the shop while I am gone.”

Gary’s was silent. I then threw him a bone. “The body’s out back. It’s still warm. Go nuts.”

Gary’s tentacles wriggled. “I prefer fresher quarry, but it’s been a long shift and I am famished.”

As I assembled some supplies in the pantry, Viktor the Pantry Ghost / ex-intern appeared from the shadows.

Moaning, he said, “going on a quest again? It sure would be a shame if you died, and I wouldn’t be bound to this pantry any more.”

I rolled my eyes, shoving the last of the supplies in my rucksack. “Don’t celebrate my death yet, Viktor.”

And thus I set out from Barovia village to Krezk. It was a miserable journey even by Barovian standards. I made the mistake of picking up an adventuring party on my mule-drawn cart. The elderly wizard of the group, whom everyone obviously disliked but had to tolerate, wouldn’t stop droning on and on and on about his old adventures decades past. Then, he would launch into another tirade about how wizards nowadays sucked and didn’t respect magic anymore. Finally he’d complain about his knees for the 100th time. It was so bad, the usual spooks that infest the woods avoided us.

When he stopped to use the restroom in the woods, in true Barovian fashion, we took off without him. The party thanked me later.

“If he ever tracks you down, just blame it on werewolves. Works every time,” I left them some parting advice. They left me a few silver to compensate. Not bad.

Krezk, Krezk, Krezk. What can I say about it? It’s a crappy town, but then everything’s crappy in Barovia, just in different ways. The Devil Strahd holds less sway here, but the Krezk nightlife is kind of … meh. These people don’t get out much, and don’t welcome outsiders. I had to bring a shipment of syrup for trade to get in the door. This will set me back a bit.

And once I got past the village gate, that was when I ran into my rival, Vlad, owner of Barovian Weiners and Pancakes.

“Hello, Vlad” I said icily as we passed one another.

With a smirk he said, “oh hello, Oleksii. You’re looking well. Profits good?”

Of course he already knew the answer so I ignored the slight. “How’s the new barista working out?”

Word gets around, Vlad had copied my idea, and hired a barista hailing from a distant plane.

“Oh, John the Thri-Kreen? He’s great! Doesn’t say much, but with so many arms he’s twice as fast as Gary.”

“Twice as hungry too,” I thought to myself. Vlad won’t last long with that monstrosity under his employ. I wouldnt shed any tears though.

Getting to Krezk is one thing, finding the Lost Manuscript is another.

Or not.

Turns out BWnP already found it. On Vlad’s tacky storefront was a signboard: “See the lost manuscript of Lord Azalin, and its alternate ending! For a limited time with a purchase of a Vlady Big Weiner Meal!”

I swallowed my pride and went in. I purchased a meal using copper slugs, and there it was in a glass case, enshrined in a gaudy altar, surrounded by candles: Lord of the Necropolis, alternate ending!

As I filed into the queue to get a closer look, I wracked my brains for how to open the altar without being caught, smuggled the manuscript out of town, and avoid the authorities.

Then I remembered the classic Barovian gambit: the Smash N Grab.

With my trusty crowbar in my pack (never leave home without one), I yelled, “hey is that Strahd over there, wearing beach sandals?” pointing in some random direction.

As soon as everyone’s eyes were turned, I drew out the crowbar, smashed the glass, and snatched the manuscript from the altar.

What happened next was a good ol Barovian Cart Chase. Using some tricks I learned from a pair of Dukes reputedly from the domain of Hazárd, I eluded the Krezk constabulary, busted out of the town and managed to lose them halfway to Vallaki. Last I saw Vlad, he was shaking his fist at me, just as his Thri-Kreen employee appeared right behind him with a hungry look on its face.

Back in Barovia village, I finally could rest easy. I parked back behind BCnW and prepared for Vlad’s inevitable counterattack. Content with my defenses, I finally cracked open the book and flipped toward the end. Gary slinked behind me and read over my shoulder.

Turns out, someone had simply crossed out the last chapter or so from a regular copy, and instead added the following:

“When Azalin came to, he was lying on a bed of flowers, seared by the powerful magic he had contended with. He looked at his hands in horror, realizing that he had been thrust back into his original lich form.

“With a cry of anguish, he cursed his tormentors one more. Then he froze. This was no ordinary garden. He knew it well. It was the garden in Castle Ravenloft. What had his tormentors planned this time?

“Then he knew he wasn’t alone. Behind him, the presence of Strahd Von Zarovich oozed from below the floor like black ink. ‘So, we meet again,’ said the silky baritone voice.

“‘Once again, our tormentors have seen fit to throw us into the ring once more,’ Azalin replied in irritation, his mind racing to line up the spells he’d need to fend off Strahd.

“But Strahd didn’t attack. He held out his hand to help Azalin up. ‘I know that pain well.’

“Azalin stared into Strahd’s feral, red eyes for a long time. ‘This is what it sounds like when doves cry.’

“The two Darklords embraced for a moment, and Strahd said, ‘I know a good bratwurst and pancake place in Krezk, let’s go.’

The End.”

Dammit, Vlad.

[ask-the-crimson-king]

So A Player In My Curse of Strahd Campaign Made Something Cursed

[Art by this bitch: @hoholupercal​

The caption for this artwork, as stated by the artist above;

“When the whole party dies, but the bard is still up.”

I have also been threatened, as the DM of this particular campaign, that if, during the upcoming Christmas holiday episode coming this Saturday, the bard pictured (who is the literal incarnation of emotional gay somewhat based on Horus fucking Lupercal because of course he is) isn’t bitten, he’s quitting the campaign.

Okay so some background:

I run 2 Curse of Strahd campaigns; one with the party in this Tales from D&D Post, and one other!

That started as a one-shot with a dinner with Strahd. Now they too are going through the so-called Barovian Bullshit™, and also apparently the bard is gay. (He’s not gay, but he could be. He doesn’t know, because he’s just perpetually confused. He is also a paladin for a god who gave him religious trauma, so there’s just a lot of conflicting bullshit.)

Anyway, so this bard is in a dress, because.... reasons? I don’t know I was learning 40k tabletop with some other friends, and I got pinged in the campaign memes chat, and saw they were talking about Strahd in a dress for some fucking reason. 

(Apparently, this is because Bard Horus rolled a 26 to Persuasion?? I don’t know, I was not here nor did I authorize this action. They just. Did it. Just like the time Bard Horus ended up seducing a door while I had to help someone do a thing. But anyway...)

And then, I got tagged, AGAIN, as I was running a CoS game for the crew linked above, in a render of Strahd and the Bard Horus. 

And then, after that session, I saw these fuckers were still in a vc so I hopped in asking what the fuck was going on, and then I’m linked to Orion’s stream where he was making the above “art piece” (just kidding I think it looks wonderful I’m just memeing don’t think I’m a mean DM) and I started asking what the fuck was happening, because I didn’t know what it was at first, and then I saw the wings and the hairline, and I was like, “Bitch excuse me that is not what I think it is.”

And then he zoomed out. 

By the way, if this sounds incoherent, it is simply because I am talking and typing at the same time, for these fuckers enjoyment. These two in particular: @hoholupercal​ @sanguiniusreborn​ who think this is just a big chucklefest. 

Anyway, that’s the “backstory” for this thing. Enjoy maybe. I don’t know anymore. Maybe I’ll post a Tales from D&D about these guys because I have some sagas.

And also Orion and Mochi are waiting for my dumb ass to finish writing this. So I will subsequently reblog whatever the fuck they’re 1:29am brains want to add to this wonderful piece. 

(It’S OnLy 10:29 HeRe ok West Coast /s)

Anyway. I’m done. Enjoy??? If this makes any sense to you, congratufuckinglations, I don’t think this makes sense in any language. Thank you and goodnight.]

[barovianfinewines]

Barovian Folk Tales & Rhymes

See a raven, watch it fly, Luck will rain down from the sky; Strike a raven to the ground, Your misfortunes will abound!

Per Curse of Strahd, Barovians and Vistani alike believe it ill-fortune to kill a raven. The inverse—ravens being a fortuitous omen—doesn't necessarily follow, but it's easy enough to omit the first couplet or restrict it to certain groups.

After the traditional "see a pin and pick it up / all the day you'll have good luck / see a pin and let it lay / bad luck you'll have all the day," of which there are innumerable variations, but this particular rhyme is collected in The Traditional Nursery Rhymes of England (1886) and The Real Mother Goose (1916).

[boredbutalive]

Following up from my first post about my beloved Death Cleric Rôhana. A friend of mine (-handdrawn_ on insta) drew the whole Curse of Strahd party.

-left to right-

Tolgrim, Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter

Rôhana, Drow Death Cleric

Leo, Scourge Aasimar Lore Bard

Kuzenbo, Tortle Moon Druid.

Dear Tolgrim was also recently killed by Strahd and is now a Revenant, unlike Rôh who was successfully revived. Leo is currently penning the tales of our Barovian endeavour under the title "The Curse of Strahd".

Feel free to interact and ask questions about the party if you want 😊

[strahd-von-asthmavich]

The Ancient and The Land - Mod Escher’s Roll20 Curse of Strahd Campaign [Session 0]

Gather round, for a tale you won’t surely forget! Join my dear, dear players as they all embark on quite the adventure in Barovia!

Before we begin, some disclaimers are needed:

Outright, there are trigger warnings for implied abuse and graphic violence.

Now, to introduce my party (one player will be introduced next session, she’s still getting used to her new work schedule)!

Diane GoldenDew - Mastermind Rogue Diane is 13 year old high elf itching for adventure! She learned a lot about different heroes, and she wishes to go on one of her own, like her favorite hero White Glint! She’s traveling by herself, since both of her parents had tragically died of old age.

Ireena Kolyana - Duelist Fighter (Played by Mod Strahd!) Ireena is the adopted daughter of the late Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia. She was found by the Burgomaster and her brother Ismark as a young child, and they took her in as part of the family. However, due to red hair being a bad omen and unforeseen circumstances, Ireena was holed away in the mansion at the age of 15, never allowed to leave again. She tried running away with her family’s ancestral blade in hand on the night before her 20th birthday, but she was ambushed by wolves not too long after. She was saved by Vasili von Holtz, a young lord of Vallaki that frequently visited the mansion and had an interest in her. Her father took exception to her departure, but after dealing with his wrath, she confided in Vasili. Just days later, Kolyan passed away.

Mirthe - Witch, Covenant of the Wise (Mod Strahd’s homebrew class!) Accompanied by her familiar, Nadcasovy (a giant weasel), Mirthe is a Carnival Performer (and might I add the cutest pastel tiefling). Her act was as a hair hanger, instead with horns! She grew up with the matriarchs of her family in a forest. Her family never shunned her father, just said he had another calling. When she grew older, about 16, she decided to go seek him out with her familiar, feeling she was missing something in connection to her magical abilities. She found her father in a carnival show and took on that life ever since. Now, she’s traveling on her own to perform.

Savita Orelene - Light Cleric Savita is a fire genasi, cursed at birth by her mother’s family after her father left shortly after her conception. Savita and her mother were taken care of clerics of the sun god, Amaunator. Grateful for their help, Savita and her mother stayed with them, and Savita was eventually blessed by the god himself. Tragically, however, her mother was slain, drained completely of her blood.

Valarys - Blood Hunter, Order of the Lycan Valarys was found by an older couple as an infant, abandoned and left on the side of a beaten road. They’ve been taken care of by the couple and was raised as their own. However, Valarys was also half-lycanthrope. As they were coming of age, they turned on accident in public, which caused a panic in the village that soon turned into a full on mob. Their father was killed in the process of protecting Valarys, but before he told them to escape, he gave them a letter and told them of a name of someone that might be able to help them.

With that, let’s begin the story of their journey under the cut!

Diane, Mirthe, Savita, and Valarys all were in their own respective campsites the night before they all met, traveling who knows where to go ahead and do who knows what. It was starting to get a little misty while they were all resting. But when they woke up the next morning, they were all trapped in a fog. when they tried to get out, they couldn’t breathe, and they all ended up meeting each other within the mists. They all decided to move out of the fog and end up in strange, dark woods that they don’t recognize. They get to know each other in the woods.

Valarys is a bit standoffish when meeting the other members of the party. Diane, being a curious and rambunctious child, was more than eager to start on her adventure. She’d read stories about Barovia, a lost city of beauty, of flowers, and of the sun. Its radiance could be something like she’d never seen before. Savita was so confused at being in such a strange land. Mirthe was more than happy to introduce herself to the players (note: Nadcasovy is bigger than Diane).

In the woods, a letter gets delivered to them in the form of a breeze, as if they were expected. The letter was as follows:

Weary Travelers and Adventurers, Welcome to Barovia.

Do forgive me for such an intrusive fog. The Mists have their own way of welcoming new visitors. Allow me to offer a far better form of hospitality.

My home is your home, as the saying goes. Feel free to roam about and indulge in the bounties of my reign. Do be careful traveling at night. We would not want any... unwanted accidents, now, would we? Mind where you tread. If I were to enter your home, I would have limitations of where I may wander, would I not?

I do hope you enjoy your stay. So long as you all follow these specific guidelines and mind your manners, we will all get along just fine. After all, this wonderful land of mine is where you will stay for the rest of your life. Do not try to go back in the fog from whence you came. You may have survived the Mists for now, but you will never be so lucky again.

And do watch your backs.

Your new Lord and Master, The Ancient and The Land of Barovia

Valarys is distraught at the concept that they may never be able to go back again. Everyone doesn’t like that idea, but they know now that they have no choice but to continue forward. After several hours, they arrive at the Gates of Barovia, where they easily open for the party.

They walk through the forest, until they hear a strange noise coming from the woods. A wolf (which Diane insists is a horse) bounds out from the forest but doesn’t attack the party. Instead, they’re running away from whatever noise was just made in the woods. Out from there comes Vasili von Holtz, who was riding a mount while holding what he describes is a gun. Mirthe in particular wonders why he couldn’t just use arrows, after he describes what a gun does, and Vasili insists that he just likes using a gun better. Valarys doesn’t trust Vasili outright, given their lycanthropy and feeling a kinship with the wolves.

Vasili was there in Svalich Woods hunting before he would then go to the Village of Barovia. He offers to let them tag along with him. On the way, he tells them about the history of the Dark Lord of the land.

“This place was not always this closed off from the rest of the world. Centuries ago, there was an ancient Prince. He came to this land and fought many battles, turning this valley into what is known today as Barovia. Not everyone treated him with kindness, however. But, when he was wounded during a harsh battle, he was nursed back to health and protected by the people who wander the land after wrongfully being forced from their homes. They’re known as the Vistani, and after taking such good care of the wounded Prince, they now forever are free to enter and leave the valley. Only they can come and go as they please.

“The Prince became the Lord of the land, maintaining order from the Eastern territories of the Village to the Western outskirts of Krezk. But he was growing older. He called for his family to come to him, and through this came the answer from his youngest brother. This young man was described to have a smile that radiated like the sun.

“Just when the Lord thought all was lost, he met a beautiful woman with fiery auburn hair; a true treasure. He loved her with all his heart. But she was taken from him. His brother, in his youthful cunning, took the woman as his own before the Lord had a chance. Enraged, the Lord attempted to take back what rightfully was his, but not without consequences.

“A coup had been staged during the brother and bride’s wedding day. The brother was slain, and the Lord was inflicted with a dark curse. And this curse spread throughout the land. The Lord became a dictator, and almost no one was safe from his wrath.”

He insists that they should go to Tser Pool to see if they could end the curse, where Madam Eva, a Seer, would be able to tell them more.

Mirthe is very pleased to hear that there is a Seer. However, Valarys is aghast at the idea of Madam Eva knowing about their past, present, and future. Vasili insists that either way, she knows all, and she could help them.

Set on going to Tser Pool, Vasili first offers to take them to the Village of Barovia to see the late Burgomaster’s children, to which Diane eagerly asks why the “Burger Master” is late. That was when Vasili reveals that the Burgomaster died of a heart attack. 

Taking exception to the fact that the party let Diane, a child, walk on foot for over 5 hours, Vasili offers to let her sit on his mount. With that, they all travel as it starts to rain (Savita, being a fire genasi, is pretty disheartened at that).

At the Village of Barovia, they’re all greeted to the sound of sobbing as they reach the center of town. After the party fails to properly perceive where exactly the crying is coming from, they proceed to knock on every door on that street until they find the source.

The first house was answered by a disgruntled man, who tells them that Mad Mary was the source of the crying. During this, Diane shows off her master skills by speaking in a perfect Barovian accent (which Vasili kindly thinks “WTF” upon hearing her). The disgruntled man tells them that crying is coming from across the street. So, they go directly across the street, where a different woman answers and insists that the crying is coming from next door.

Mad Mary answers, completely distraught at the loss of her daughter, and she is dismissive of the players being able to help her at first. She is also initially scared shitless by Diane’s talking doll, after she shows it when seeing a doll in Mad Mary’s hand. She then cries that the “Devil” could possibly have her. Diane insists that this devil must’ve been a Bone Devil, after Mad Mary describes that the Burgomaster was publicly executed by being drained completely of his blood. Initially hopeless, the party manages to convince her that they would try to find her daughter, Gertruda.

With that, Mad Mary leaves them to their own devices, just as they hear a cart roll by and a withered voice shout “Fresh Pies, Fresh Pies, Freshly Made from Granny’s Supplies!”

Crowds gather to have a taste of her delicious food.

Diane manages to successfully steal a savory meat pie from her cart, just as Vasili also decides to come up to the cart. He and Granny know each other, and Vasili eagerly does business with her, buying three pies for the party. Savita eats a meat pie, Mirthe eats half of a fruit pie, and there was also a berry pie that was purchased. Granny notes that one of her meat pies is missing, but she doesn’t think too long about that. Granny also mentions that if they ever needed any more pies, they could always visit her at the Old Durst Mill, where she lives and works.

Vasili then takes them down to the end of the street, where the Burgomaster’s mansion was. They all go inside, and they’re greeted by Ismark in a drunken stupor. At the mention of his father, Ismark simply states, “Peace be upon him” and proceeds to belch.

Right away, Vasili is looking for Ireena, who has been sitting in the library. She eagerly greets him, as well as the party. Vasili leaves to find Ismark to see if they found Kolyan’s will. During this, Diane explores the library to try and find a book about heroes, but she doesn’t find exactly what she was looking for. See, she was looking for a book about White Glint, but instead she found one about the story of a hero named Ivan Denesch and his quest to defeat Koschei the Immortal. Ireena more than happily talks about the story with Diane, who enjoys it.

Valarys meanwhile finds a book about werewolves, in which Ireena tells them that it was written by none other than Rudolph van Richten, a legendary hunter of sorts.

The party takes time with Ireena to get to know each other, in which they point out that Ireena has several healing bruises down the left side of her face and on her neck. When asked, she insists that she’s fine and that things will be better now, but she secretly insists after Diane asks that her insistence is because of Kolyan being dead. They all continue to have heartfelt moments when interacting, one such moment including Ireena giving Nadcasovy the good scritches.

After a while, Vasili and Ismark return to the library after being in a room across the hall. In hand, Ismark has Kolyan’s will, and he gives it to Vasili to read. Ismark can barely sit down, let alone look straight to read a letter. Vasili begrudgingly reads ahead first, before reading aloud:

I, Kolyan Indirovich, Burgomaster of the Village of Barovia, hereby write my final will and testimony.

For my son, Ismark, as painful as it is for me to bequeath to you this, I leave you my title and the mansion. Never forget the responsibilities of maintaining such a village and the privilege that implies. Do not let the people down more than you already have. Straighten yourself out, and maybe I will look at you fondly from the afterlife. Do be the one to place me in my final resting place. You know why, my son.

Vasili von Holtz, my dearest friend, I know we have only known each other for a short time, but it is my dying wish that you look after my daughter. She is a bright young woman with ambitions that far surpass my expectations. Wherever she may roam off to next, please assure me that she will always be under your protection. Interpret that as you see fit. I know you won’t disappoint me.

For my dearest daughter, Ireena, I leave behind for you the knowledge that everything I have done, no matter how drastic my methods may have seemed, was for your protection and your own good. My reasons for worrying for you have been confirmed. You are a wise, determined young lady, but with hair as blood red as yours, my concern for you has been like a Plague. Heed the world with caution. Stay safe, and stay home.

Distraught, Ireena immediately leaves the library after punching a decently sized hole in the wall, and Vasili goes after her to console her. They both know that they need to act sympathetic to keep up appearances, but they know that this was something Kolyan did not deserve. Ireena hates the message for her that was left behind, insisting how horribly she had been treated. Vasili offers that she can stay with him, so long as Ismark lets her go (since he’s now in charge of the mansion and everything in it) and she wants to join him. Needless to say, they’re both glad that Kolyan is dead.

Ireena then reveals what the Dark Lord had said to her at the execution: “I will always protect you, my lovely summer rose.” 

She doesn’t understand how he was able to find out what was happening anyways, in which Vasili recollects that superstition says that he’s always watching, but his timing was impeccable. The two embrace each other. In the middle of the hallway.

Meanwhile, Ismark explains to the rest of the party how the Burgomaster really died. Mad Mary wasn’t exactly “mad” when it came to her claim. Kolyan was dragged out to the center of town for his crimes against humanity (which somehow was found out) and was executed by the Dark Lord of the land himself. He was drained completely of his blood in front of the entire village, and since then, no one wanted to go near the Burgomaster’s children or even try to help bury him.

Ismark also tells them that he’s not going to keep Ireena cooped up like it said in Kolyan’s will. He explains that the reason why Ireena was initially cooped up was that being a red-haired woman was a bad omen (or so they say, since he’s impartial to superstitions). He also puts to rest that the “devil” is not a Bone Devil, but a vampire. He also warns them of strange creatures that all want to kill you: “Wolves, werewolves, dire wolves... a lot of wolves. There’s men that look like trees. Scarecrows...” He’s too drunk to be coherent about what’s actually out there, but he does warn them seriously that they should watch out for fleders, an aggressive type of vampire that hunts ruthlessly at night.

Ismark then politely asks if they could help them bury the Burgomaster tomorrow, as much as he doesn’t want to do a proper funeral. They all agree.

The session ends when Ismark offers that he can ask Ireena to make them dinner and that they could stay the night at the mansion. Valarys offers their help, in which Ismark insists Ireena would appreciate that. Meanwhile, Diane interrupts Ireena and Vasili kissing in the hallway by swiftly moving passed them, with Nadcasovy following suit.

[vulpixelates]

Saw a new picrew floating around my dash, so naturally I had to make my OCs from a Ravenloft-themed series of one-shots that my group plays. They are all part of a group referred to as The Last Chance Brigade because it’s filled with misfits and criminals that are trying to redeem themselves, but usually end up doing otherwise. Descriptions go from left to right.

Ary Longshot: A genderfluid changeling and gloom stalker ranger who may or may not be madly in love with a far away queen that they cannot be with right now and is definitely plotting to kill the general of the army they were formerly a part of. They have a companion creature named Henrietta, who is a small fey, bird-like entity that eats gems and can move throughout the planes to deliver messages and give advice. 

Stefano Chavali: “Stef” or “Vali” for short. She is a Vistani oracle who is based on Charisma and Strength and wields a glaive in battle. Vali fancies herself a breaker of chains and bringer of justice, but will settle for challenging people to sparring matches and cheating at games of chance when the mood strikes.

Vanja Velikova: A fetchling shadow sorcerer/cleric. As the daughter of Barovian nobility and a grave cleric of the Eternal Order, Vanja Velikova enjoys the good things in life: long walks around the creepy docks of Darkon, imported sugary treats, and ritual sacrifices to appease Death. (Accidentally and loosely based on Mercy from Tales from the Mists, oops.)