#ruki von holtz

[dndeviants]

Had the Evil Dad feels, so I drew Strahd and his adopted protegee, one of our player characters, Ruki: A Tiefling/Vistani Mystic.

Here she is roughly eleven, enjoying Strahd reading her a ghost story as a reward for a good day of lessons.

Also, I couldn’t resist giving her skull and eye pattern pajamas...

[dndeviants]

Our party’s tiefling Vistana, Ruki of the Zarovan tribe. She is a mystic, and has been a joy to play with.

[dndeviants]

Battle with the Abbot

Strahd leaped from his seat and grabbed the Abbot’s hand, his face contorting into something inhuman as his eyes glowed red, his sclera turned black, his nose drew back from his face into the shape of a bat’s, his fangs extended from his mouth.

Strahd hissed, “Cease this! Don’t you dare lay a hand on her, nor my guests!”

Strahd’s hand burned, his flesh sizzled as he touched the holy creature, but he extended his claws, and held on tight. He wouldn’t show weakness now.

The Abbot looked to Strahd in disgust, “I had aims to help you, you unholy, pitiable mess! But I see now that some sinners cannot be saved.”

The Abbot glowed and his form shimmered. He began a transformation of his own... His skin paled to a glowing silver. His eyes turned pure white, as did his hair... He looked youthful and young. 

His drab vestments fell away, revealing a well muscled, but nude form, lacking any distinguishing characteristics of sex. 

Finally, his wings unfurled, showering those around the Abbot in a golden light. He pulled away from Strahd’s grasp and rose above everyone with a disapproving look.

“All of you sinners will receive judgment. I am the most trusted deva in the service of Lathander Morninglord... and now I will send you to him.“

Mina quickly loaded her crossbow, no longer content to wait. She fired one bolt at him, hitting him in the chest. 

He seemed unfazed. She reloaded, aimed and-

Tlik! She was too quick and not careful. Her crossbow jammed, “SHIT!” She cried out, fiddling with the loading mechanism.

The Abbot’s head snapped toward Mina, he raised his glowing hand...

“Language,“ he simply said as he hurled a ball of flaming gold at the woman. 

Mina ran from the flames, heat scorching her back.

Strahd drew his sword from his side and sliced upward at the angelic creature. The Abbot reeled back from the blow, and dodged narrowly as Strahd’s return swing aimed to cleave the creature’s head in half.

Ruki stood, brandishing her Ba’al Verzi daggers. She drew the Mark of Death on the Abbot, before launching herself headfirst at the deva. She infused her blades with mystic power, warping the air around her as she cut into the Abbot.

The Abbot’s form flickered, before settling back in. He looked to Ruki, “Fiendish filth. How dare you attack a servant of the Morninglord?”

The Abbot raised his hand to strike her down as a rapier slid through his back. 

Aric removed his rapier and rolled out of sight, doing his best to conceal his body.

The Abbot staggered and whirled around to look for his assailant. His eyes settled on Aric. Aric could feel his stomach churn with dread.

This isn’t good... thought Aric, grimly.

The Abbot’s eyes burned brightly as he commanded, "Vasilka, remove this pest..."

The golem that had previously been motionless, rose obediently, her eyes glazing over. She lumbered over to the rogue and raised her arms. She slammed Aric.

Aric flew threw the air, stunned. The golem looked like a small, frail woman. But her strength was incredible. He positioned himself to land on his feet, and just barely managed to keep himself from falling prone. His eyes watered, head pounded, and his lungs ached from having the wind knocked from them.

“Aric!“ Jeeves cried out, reaching for his crossbow. He fired a shot at the golem, the force of the blow staggered her. 

Victor Vallakovich held out his hands in front of him, summoning arcane power to fire magic missiles at Vasilka. They landed on her, throwing her away from Aric

Linda pulled out her revolver, determined to put down this fallen angel. Three shots rang out, and struck their target, but it didn’t seem to do much of anything.

She swore to herself. This wasn’t a kind of creature she was prepared to tussle with.

“Stop this, please!“ Sergei cried out, his hands alight with radiant light. 

The Abbot looked to his protegee, “Sergei, this is an unholy creature of the night and his allies... You know what has to be done.”

Sergei glowered, “I do,” his hands were aglow with holy energy as he squared on Strahd...

This is it. Fate’s recompense... My brother will kill me on this day, as I have killed him... So be it. Strahd faced his brother. 

Sergei hurled the holy energy. Like a lightning bolt it flew out of his hands, and passed by Strahd, striking the Abbot behind him.

The Abbot flew into a rage as Sergei chose his side, “You dare use my own spell against me?!”

Strahd was just as shocked as the Abbot.

Sergei’s face was stern with righteous fury, “The Morninglord I know wouldn’t condone this! Killing the innocent? Torturing those in your care? You are not the man I looked up to! You are the monster here!”

That was all the time Mina needed. She re-set her loading mechanism, fixing it.

“Back in the fight!“ she cried out as she loosed another bolt into the Abbot’s wing.

The Abbot’s wings fluttered as he was knocked off his balance. He landed and held out his hand... a golden mace manifested in the deva’s previously empty palm. He gripped it tight and launched himself at Strahd.

“You have corrupted my apprentice with your very presence!“ The Abbot cried.

He raised the mace high and brought it down. 

Strahd raised his sword in defense- a little too late. The mace slipped right past and buried itself in his shoulder. Despite his best efforts, he bellowed in pain as the blow broke bones, and the holy aura ate through his skin like acid... burning through his flesh, charring muscle, exposing bone...

“I was a fool to take pity on you. I should have destroyed you when I had the chance!“ The Abbot made a return swing with his mace.

Another hit. It seemed like he was taking the opportunity now.

Strahd staggered... his eyes bleary from the pain. He could feel that death was upon him... he tried to reach out to the Heart of Sorrow in Castle Ravenloft-

The connection was severed.

How? He thought, then realized with dread that Khazan’s spell drain had severed his connection to his shield... 

He cursed, thanking the powers that be that there was no sunlight to further his weaknesses. He raised his good arm and tried to blight the deva... Surely a creature of holiness would be susceptible to unholy power...

The Abbot still stood, angrily, and hardly effected by Strahd’s use of magic... He raised the mace again...

Tactical retreat. Strahd’s form wavered as he summoned a magical mist to take him outside of the Abbot’s melee range. He couldn’t afford to take another blow like that... not in this situation... 

He could feel his regeneration delayed... all he needed was time...  He tried not to focus on the pain that wracked his undead body as the holy energy continued to eat away at him.

“Lord Strahd!“ Ruki’s eyes flashed white with psionic energy as she struck at the deva. 

He dodged her advances. Fury fueled her as she slashed at him, forcing him to focus on her instead.

The Abbot raised his mace defensively, and warded off Aric as he came at him. He turned his focus on the two attacking him, and commanded Vasilka:

"Finish the vampire!"

Vasilka obediently rose and turned to face Strahd, her arms outstretched. She hobbled over to the weakened vampire and swung her arms...

Strahd flew backward... Vasilka pursued him, raised her arms...

Strahd rolled out of the way, ignoring the pain of his broken bones as he did so...  

She still pursued... Strahd summoned his will power to survive and moved quickly past the golem, slipping from her, and retreating behind Victor and Jeeves’ position.

Linda ran to a better position and took aim... One shot, two shots... three-

Tink! She pulled the trigger, and nothing happened. Dread gripped her. A jam. Now of all times?

“Fuck!“ she cried out. She fiddled with her repair kit, twisting... there. Fixed. 

She leveled her gun. Let’s try this again, shall we...

Three...

The shot rang out and hit the Abbot... this one actually seemed to do something. The Abbot’s form wavered, and began to show wounds... His skin turned dark gray...

But he still stood.

Vasilka mindlessly continued her pursuit of Strahd, barreling toward Victor and Jeeves. 

Victor released a fire bolt at the golem, panicking, “Stay away from me! ”

Jeeves braced himself for the attack...

Sergei turned to the golem, calling to everyone over there, “Watch out!”

He hurled that divine energy at the creature, staggering her.

Mina focused on the Abbot, loading her crossbow and hitting him. He was looking like he was starting to falter, and she wanted to finish him off...

The Abbot glowed with a radiant aura and placed his hands over his heart, “Morninglord... give me the strength to carry out your will...” His graying skin glowed golden, and a few of his wounds seemed to melt away... 

He raised his hands at Strahd, golden energy crackling as a bolt of holy light struck the vampire...

Strahd bared his fangs... no more chances, he didn’t care about the risks. Near delusional with pain, he raised his hands, summoning a wall of fire over the Abbot.

The Abbot tried to breach the wall, his feathered wings burning. He could not pass... 

Strahd willed the wall not to harm his allies... he had the Abbot trapped in the corner... there was no escape for him.

He watched, with no small amount of satisfaction as the creature tried and failed over and over to escape... until all that was left was a skeletal form...

The Abbot cried out, “Damn you! Damn you, Von Zarovich! May the Morninglord take my ash recreate me, so I can exact his vengeance! YOU WILL HAVE RETRIBUTION, VAMPIRE! AND IT WILL BE DIVINE!”

The skeletal form shrieked and then fell to ash... 

Strahd released his spell, and breathed to steady himself and ignore the pain he was in... he shuddered and took knee...

Barely alive.

Ruki ran over to her adoptive father to steady him. He was in very bad shape, his skin charred where the holy energy had hit him, his flesh eaten away in some places... His face gaunt and bestial... parts of his skull showed...

He looked as if he should be dead. 

She held on to him. The best she could do was wait... 

A few seconds passed... and then she could feel his wounds mend beneath her. 

Strahd raised a hand to Ruki, “Thank you...” he took in that small comfort as his body began to repair itself.

Linda jumped from her position and ran over to Strahd, overcome with fear for his well-being, "Are you okay?"

She watched in horrified fascination as the bones in his arm set themselves, sinew and muscle growing and weaving back into place... the skin returning to its pallor, burn marks fading away... 

He seemed like he was getting better, but he still looked worse for wear.

“I’m...“ his voice wavered. He took a moment for his strength to return to him before answering, “I’ll be fine.“

She lightly touched his shoulder that had been hit, before retreating her hand. She shook her head. She didn’t know what had come over her.

Aric rose from his hiding place and rushed over to the pile of ash. He searched through it, panicking, Please don’t be destroyed, please...please.... there! He pulled out the ring... it was still a bit hot, but it only made his hand slightly uncomfortable.

Annulus Qysaris Minor... a spell storing ring. It’s true power wouldn’t reveal itself until he had its partner, Annulus Qysaris Major.

But one more for me is one less for Mehmet. He put it on his hand.

Strahd recovered back to his normal appearance and Ruki let go of him. He worked on mending his clothes and noticed that Mina and Victor were staring at him with odd expressions on their faces...

No use hiding.

 "Great..." Strahd growled and made a flippant gesture, "Yes, I am Strahd.”

He began to answer their unspoken questions in quick succession:

“No, I am not going to drink from you. Yes, I know I'm not the typical vampire. No, I don't want you to treat me any differently. Yes, I understand if you no longer want to continue traveling with me. Yes, I expect you to keep this a secret. Does that about cover everything?"

"If it doesn't,” Linda stood up and turned to them, “ I'd be happy to answer any further questions."

Strahd looked to Linda, baffled at her support.

“Worry not my lord,” Ruki gripped her staff, “I can affix their memories if need be...”

"We'll see if it is necessary..." Strahd looked to Mina and Victor, an edge in his voice, "Is it?"

Mina simply shook her head. But Victor raised his hand, "Just out of curiosity... how does one affix memories?"

Ruki’s eyes flashed, “Oh? A demonstration, is it?”

Victor stammered holding out his hands,  "N-n-n-no! I was just asking theory!"

Ruki looked over to Jeeves. The loyal servant was busy collecting samples of the deva’s bone ash, and separating them into small vials, musing about how useful they could be. She walked over to him and reached out a hand...

Aric stood and warned,  "I wouldn't do that Ruki, could end badly for you."

Ruki did not heed Aric’s warning, and put Jeeves into a daze without his notice. Jeeves paused his collection and stared off, confused.

“What was I doing?“ he muttered.

“That is how, young Master Victor,“ Ruki smiled, satisfied.

Victor scratched his head in confusion.

Aric was less than pleased. He turned to Ruki, “Ruki, undo whatever it is you have done!”

“Fine,“ the mystic tapped her staff on Jeeves’ head.

Jeeves cried out, “Ow, hey!” and rubbed his head, “What the hell?”

"She put some kind of spell on you,” Aric explained, “and could have been nicer about removing it..."

Jeeves glared at Ruki and began to sweep up the deva ashes again, "I don't see why. I was just cleaning up here. Something needs to be clean in this place or I'm gonna go insane!"

“The other method would have taken longer...” Ruki simply replied.

Aric looked to Jeeves and whispered, “You know where she sleeps. Get her back then. Just nothing too extreme. Strahd seems attached to her.”

Strahd walked over to Sergei, who was silently, and numbly sitting at the table, staring at the scorching on the floors and walls. He looked to Strahd’s approach without fear...

Without memory...

Strahd felt something stir within him, but forced himself to remain calm, "I'm going to need you to take care of the creatures in this place. At least until we can get everything sorted out."

"Why me, Lord Strahd?" Sergei blinked up at him. 

Strahd sighed, "Because I don't trust anyone in the village to take kindly to them,” he explained, “Don't let them be seen. Not yet. But at least... unchain these... mongrelfolk. As for you... Vasilka...”

Vasilka cowered in fear at the vampire’s approach. 

Strahd paused, and moved no further, "You also stay out of sight.”

He shook his head in disgust, “Whatever you may have come from is an abominable act, but you are not responsible for your creation. Stay out of sight. Am I understood?"

Vasilka nodded slowly, to show she understood.

Ruki stepped forth, “My lord, if I may suggest... Shall we send her back to Castle Ravenloft under Ludmilla's care?”

Strahd pinched his brow. The last thing he wanted was this mockery of Tatayana in the castle, “I'll have to think on it."

Ruki was firm, “She will remain out of sight if she stays within the castle walls.”

And the castle was very large. He didn’t have to see her if he didn’t want to... he conceded, "Very well. We will arrange for transportation. But in the meantime, we have much larger things to worry about. Such as the defenses of Krezk.”

He turned to the bounty hunter, “Mina, a word with you, what you found at the walls..."

Mina nodded and stepped forth, "Yes, Vasili-I uh mean Strahd- erm... Lord Strahd-"

"The report," Strahd reminded her. He had little patience for this.

Mina grounded herself, "Bad shape. The walls are not holding up near Lake Baratok, and there is a gap where the Abbey overlooks the cliff. If they come in through that way, the town can be overrun very quickly."

Strahd nodded, "Then we need to set up defenses in those areas. Anything will do, even a palisade or pit trap. Something."

Ruki walked back to Aric. She had nearly seen Strahd fall due to holy energy. She didn’t want to see that happen again, and she went to the genasi with her hand outstretched.

It was her duty to protect her adoptive father from things that could subdue him.

“If I may have the symbol back in my possession please...” Ruki looked to him firmly.

Aric tilted his head, confused, “Symbol?"

“The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind,” she patiently clarified.

"Oh, I forgot i still had that..." he reached in his pack and carefully handed it to Ruki, not wanting to upset Strahd further.

Ruki nodded her appreciation, “Thank you Master Aric,” She put the symbol in her pack and walked back to Strahd.

Linda watched Strahd calculate and pace, thinking on different things to do to prepare for the werewolves. She stood, “We don’t wait for the attack.”

Strahd looked to her, tiredly,  "We aren't prepared, Linda...” 

He made a frustrated gesture,  “And from the sound of it, they've had months to prepare... I need to protect my people,” he looked to her, “whether or not they still accept me as their Lord and Protector. Rushing headlong into a den isn't going to solve anything."

Linda folded her arms, conceding, "Fine. But we still need to figure out why they are attacking."

Strahd blinked, realizing he hadn’t told her what he had learned. He held out his hand, "It's because the mate of the former leader of the pack is here. That is who I was talking to. Zuleika Toranescu...”

He folded his cloak around him, “The rest of the town doesn't know that she is here. She still expressed loyalty and gratitude to me, and was kind enough to not out me in public. I did the same for her. She told me that she would meet me by the Shrine at the next available opportunity."

Linda nodded, determined, "Then, let's go. No time to waste."

[dndeviants]

Strahd's alter ego, Vasili von Holtz. People interpret his disguise differently, but for my players, it was "Basically Strahd in a top hat." He achieved his desired effects by using Nystul's magic aura to throw off magical detection of his vampirism, disguise self to hide his pallor, red eyes, and pointed ears, essentially becoming how he remembered himself to be when he was alive... And a top hat from the dread realm of Mordent he acquired by trading with the Vistani.

[dndeviants]

Return to Ravenloft

The nightmares landed at Castle Ravenloft. The party dismounted themselves and finally got the chance to actually pay attention to their surroundings. 

They soaked in the foreboding, yet beautiful stonework, the expert craftsmanship on the oaken doors, long stained glass windows... and one beautiful stained glass circular window directly above them with the shining sun of the old Barovian god shown proudly...

Music seeped through the stone. It was surprisingly upbeat and jovial. The sounds of celebration and the chatter of victory beckoned them inside. The fire light flickered through the windows, spilling on the ground. 

Whoops and cheers spilled out from within. It was a full blown reverie.

Jeeves put his hands on his hips and looked to Aric, “It’s quite a ruckus.”

“Yup,“ Linda replied, smirking, “Very lively...“

Her companions groaned as she chuckled.

Shadows flickered across the windows. Linda blinked. Given the placement of the windows from the ground and the length of the windows... the movement would have come from...

The ceiling?

“Vampires...“ she muttered. She walked up to the castle doors, “I gotta see this.“

Jeeves watched as Linda walked inside the castle. He called out, "What is there to see? Creepy castle? And even creepier inhabitants?"

There was a pause before she poked her head back out, “They are dancing on the ceiling," she eagerly retreated back inside.

Aric turned to Jeeves, "The ceiling, that's... different. Should we should join so as not to appear rude? The consorts did help us fight after all..."

"I suppose," Jeeves admitted, rushing forward to open the door for his liege, "My lord."

Aric entered the castle, "Thank you, Jeeves."

Aric, Jeeves, and Ruki walked through the stone halls, following the sounds of the reverie. Ruki obeyed her father’s instructions and guided them to the dining room.

A long table ran down the center of the stone and marble room, it was covered with a pristine white silk table cloth, with settings for twenty or so guests, and a special throne at the head of he table. All the place settings had fine polished silver plates and ornate silverware with wine goblets... some of the goblets were filled with a red liquid...

Blood, thought Linda. She looked to the casks uneasily, that is blood too. Another uneasy thing for her was just... how similar the style of the room was to the styles of the noble merchants of Neverwinter and Waterdeep. 

She stared at the back wall. There was a grand pipe organ built into the foundation of the castle, its pipes and bellows extended all the way to the ceiling. But the music they heard wasn’t organ music....

Ghostly servants played stringed instruments and tambourines. Skeletons paraded around accomplishing mundane chores.

They looked up. Just past the four golden chandeliers that illuminated most of the room, the consorts were dancing on the ceiling. There was also a woman in maid’s clothes toiling hard at the ceiling, desperately dusting the ancient timber.

Jeeves nudged Aric and pointed to the skeletons, "Who do you think they used to be?"

Aric stared wide-eyed at the skeletal servants. He hadn’t noticed them,  "No idea, they are strange though.”

Linda raised a brow, “Odd...” she took out a small journal and began to write her questions.

"Good Evening friends! How rude of us... let us get on the same level as you mortals... come darlings..." Escher was the one who spoke. He bowed elegantly and walked down the marble pillar to stand in front of them. He looked to the tiefling and smiled,  "Ah, and good evening to you especially, Lady Ruki."

Escher grinned, baring fangs as the other consorts joined him. Linda looked up from her notebook.

She put her notebook away, opting to keep her hands free when dealing with the vampires. “Good evening,” she replied.

The red-haired female consort stepped forward, looking refreshed and youthful- nowhere near the amount of haggard she looked while fighting... In fact, to Linda, it looked like she was never in battle to begin with.

The red-haired one spoke in a low, soft voice, "Ah, Lord Strahd's guests... may I inquire as to where our lord is?"

Linda answered, "He and Rahadin took Mordenkainen to a mage's tower to keep him imprisoned until we can figure out what is wrong with him."

 "What is wrong with Mordenkainen?” A dark-skinned woman unlike the other Barovians mocked, “I can give you an answer... the fact that he isn't already six feet under, that is what I say..."

 "Perhaps our lord has grown too trusting of the living strangers..." the smallest of the female consorts spoke, almost glaring at them with her platinum mask in the shape of a horned skull.

Escher tutted, "Now now, no need to be rude... without them, we wouldn't have had this grand outing..."

Linda quirked her lips, unfazed by the vampires’ manners, "And these living strangers have names, which I assume you have as well."

Escher raised a brow, "Indeed. You may call me Escher. My last name is of no consequence, so you may not have it."

Linda smirked and folded her arms, “Very well, you can call me Linda.”

The dark-skinned woman stepped forward with grand posture, "Ludmila Vilisevic. Mila is a name reserved for friends and lovers...” She gave a cold, smug look,”You may call me Ludmila."

The red-haired woman stepped up with Ludmila and put a hand on her shoulder, “Ana,” was all she spoke as to her name.

The small consort removed her mask, revealing a soft face and wide blue eyes. She listed her titles, "Volenta Popofsky, Spring Maiden, and Vallaki's Siren of the Hills. My pleasure to finally meet you guests! We've been looking forward to seeing new people for years! Don't let Mila intimidate you. She's just protective."

Ludmila hissed, "Quiet, love!"

Linda raised her hands to gesture peace. She didn’t want the spawn to be agitated when their master wasn’t around to control them, "I understand. You hardly know us. It is expected for there to be... unease."

The female consorts backed off their aggression. Escher turned to Aric, who had been keeping quiet. He smiled at the young genasi, "My, my... what a handsome boy you are. You are quiet... what is your name, son?"

It won’t do well to appear rude... Despite his manners, Aric thought. "Aric Rein, a pleasure to meet you. And this is my retainer Jeeves,” Aric answered.

Ruki watched with quiet amusement, and donned a silk butterfly mask, while pulling out her ocarina. She playfully called to Escher, “Careful Escher, he's taken by his retainer...”

Escher laughed, "The boy is hardly old enough to marry, much less be taken. But how have you been, darling? Come now, spill the cask!"

Escher walked over to Ruki and pat her on the back, before turning to the other guests, "And everyone feel free to enjoy the music, dance, celebrate..."

The consorts resumed their dance, as the party still awkwardly stood near the wall.

Ruki looked at Ana and Mila and frowned, “I will have to teach them a lesson later. For now, I can manage to look after most affairs.”

Escher tutted,”Now, now. I think 'Vasili' has gotten to you. You can't be all work all the time."

Volenta absently spun around the table, lifting her fluffy skirts. She giggled and then startled as she bumped into Aric, “Oh my! Oops! Oh,” she smiled, grabbing on to him, “You should dance with me! Don’t worry, I know how to lead!”

I seriously doubt she knows how to lead- Oh no! Aric was surprised as this frail looking girl, about two or so years older than him physically, lifted him off the ground and began to twirl with him around the table... She’s holding me captive- I’ve no choice but to let her lead!

Jeeves reached out in a panic as his master was abducted, “MY LORD!”

Volenta sang nonsense and giddily laughed as she spun Aric around. Ruki approached Jeeves, and spoke without concern, “He will be fine. No one is as gentle and caring as Volenta.”

Jeeves looked to Ruki, agape, “"GENTLE?!"

“Yes, gentle,” insisted Ruki.

Aric called out, "I'm alright Jeeves!” Aric looked down at the enthusiastic vampire, “Volenta, maybe you could set me down and I could lead for a bit."

She giggled, "Alright! Although I did have fun. Your turn."

Volenta set Aric down. Aric bowed like a gentleman, much to her delight, and took her by the hand and waist to lead her in waltz.

Ruki smirked to her friend, “Escher, maybe you would like to ease Jeeves' mind with dance?”

Escher looked to Jeeves with interest, “Well I am not opposed...”

"I'm no dancer. That's a hard no," Jeeves spoke tight-lipped.

"What is it with serious retainers...? Rahadin, Jeeves..." Escher looked to Linda, and extended his hand, "Would you care?"

Perhaps I could get some questions answered. She stood up straight and extended her hand to him, “Very well.”

Linda allowed him to lead her in a waltz and waited until they had progressed through the dining hall a bit before asking, "So, Escher, how did you end up in Castle Ravenloft and a consort?"

"Oh, little old me?” Escher laughed, “I was a bard from a writer's guild. I specialized in poetry, history, and genealogy. I was hired by lord Strahd to be his personal historian. He commissioned me to make a book detailing the various 'reigns of his family'..."

He continued, "When I found out his secret, and the consorts' existence, I realized it was just a propaganda piece, but finished it anyway... and got him to trust me again. Wooed him... convinced him to turn me. Now I am here. It was pretty simple and uneventful really."

So he is the one who wrote the book. He asked to be a consort? He wanted to be a vampire? Are all the other consorts like that? Most spawn are slaves to their master, but they seem to have at least some freedom...

Linda was shocked, but tried to play it off, "Oh, well, I have read your work. It is well done propaganda..." she paused and ventured,  "Do you know which parts were the real history?"

"Indeed I do, In fact I-" Escher stopped dead.

All of the music ended abruptly, and the consorts grew deathly still.

Linda was stunned by the reaction and felt chills all over her body. Why would they-?

"My my... what is all this then? Celebrating my absence, are we?" The voice of Strahd echoed through the dining hall.

Linda spun around to face the voice, heart racing. Strahd stood at the entry to the hall with Rahadin by his side. Rahadin scowled disapprovingly at the scene. Strahd surveyed the dining room with a barely amused expression on his twisted, bat-like face.

Strahd’s eyes landed on Escher, and seemed to burn for a brief moment. Escher dropped his hands from Linda’s waist to his side and bowed his head. 

Strahd chuckled.

Rahadin stepped forth, addressing the consorts, "Made a mess on the ceiling...?"

Escher protested, "No, we weren't on the ceiling-"

Rahadin glared at Escher and held up a single finger to silence him. After a pause, he used the same finger to point up to the maid on the ceiling, desperately trying to clean.

Strahd quirked his lips in amusement, "That's alright, Helga. You can come down from there..."

As the maid scurried off the ceiling, and kept her head low, Strahd approached Escher.

He clacked his tongue, “Why do you lie, Escher?"

Linda stepped away from Escher, not wanting to be near the vampires when Strahd decided to punish the man... Linda’s heart pounded in her chest, anticipating his next move.

Escher spoke playfully,  "It's why you hired me, my lord."

Strahd raised a brow, crinkling the already deformed lines on his face, "I will give you that. It is why I hired you, but not why I kept you around...”

Strahd approached Escher again  and came really close to him. He put a clawed thumb on Escher’s chin...

 Strahd smirked, “You may work with Helga. Make sure the guest quarters are suitable for my guests. I have rewards to grant them for their services."

That’s it? That’s his punishment? Linda breathed in relief. She felt certain that Strahd would have done something worse than making the prissy bard clean. But it seemed to be more than enough.

Escher sighed and groaned, displeased. Then he looked to Strahd with a petulant expression, "Well... we helped. What is our reward?" Escher gestured to the other consorts, who lined up next to him.

Strahd smiled in amusement, "We want a reward? Very well. Come here, darlings..."

Linda watched, stunned as the consorts came over to him, one by one, each being kissed and embraced by the Vampire Lord... with very genuine affection. He made Escher wait until the last to receive his affection.

Strahd embraced Escher, and pecked him on the cheek. 

Escher huffed, but was not displeased, "That is it?"

Strahd laughed,"If I recall, you were the one who told me that 'a token of my affection would be greater than any other treasure I could offer you'... am I mistaken?"

Escher sighed, and chuckled, defeated, "No. You use my own words against me, my lord."

Strahd pat Escher on the shoulder, "You are dismissed. Please make sure everything is suitable."

Strahd allowed the consorts to leave, before striding in and sitting himself at the throne at the head of the table. He took the wine glass from his setting and drank the red liquid from within...

As he drank, his pale skin flushed, his twisted features seemed to melt... the blood restored him to a more human state... More human, but remnants of his bat-like nose and pointed ears remained.

Linda and Aric stood, unsure of what to do...

Strahd noticed their uncertainty and gestured to the seating,  "No need to stand. Come, join me."

Aric felt brave. The vampire was drinking blood, obviously, so he shouldn’t have to fear his own blood being taken. He sat immediately to Strahd’s left, Jeeves sitting next to him. 

Linda felt much the same and sat on Strahd’s right. Ruki remained standing by Strahd’s side.

Strahd surveyed his worn and battered guests. He looked to Rahadin, "Have a meal made for my guests. There are things to be discussed."

Rahadin bowed his head, “Yes, lord Strahd," Rahadin swiftly left to see to his master’s wishes.

Strahd examined his now empty wine glass for a brief moment. The living energy of the blood he fed from allowed him to gather his thoughts. He looked back up to Aric and Linda, allowing himself to smile briefly,  "I trust my consorts were kind to you?"

Linda hesitated, “Mostly...”

 "Mila?" Strahd questioned, already knowing the answer himself.

Ruki chuckled as Linda blinked.

"I guess you know their characters well," Linda said.

Strahd laughed quietly, "I make it a habit of knowing the characters of all who I bring in to my company. You... are no exception. And I have to say... I am pleased.”

He fixed them with his stare, “I could have hoped for no better help than you- even if it was not the kind of help I was seeking at the time."

Strahd leaned back in his chair, and made a gesture. A ghostly hand appeared and carried his wine glass to a cask and filled it with more blood before returning it to his hand. Strahd continued, "I have so, so many questions... and I suppose you have the same of me?"

"Indeed. I have a few," Linda nodded and took out her notebook and a pen. 

Strahd blinked, suddenly uneasy. He didn’t let it show, however,  "Oh? You came prepared? Very well."

"First off, where did the children go?” Linda asked, “And is Timothy with them? Is he okay?"

The children. Strahd relaxed but held up a hand, as if to ask for patience. He sipped the blood and felt it return him to his completely human form. Much better.

 "They are all with Mina and Victor,” Strahd answered, “They are headed to Vallaki now, with an escort. There, they will meet with Father Petrovich, who will tend to their wounds from the fighting they did in captivity. They are as safe as one could be in Barovia."

"Very well. When I can, I want to see Timothy," Linda took a note and paused, flipping through her notebook.

Strahd sipped blood, patiently, now letting his eternal hunger become sated for the moment. 

Linda looked back up to him, "Do you know more about Kiril? I saw that he turned to mist after the last blow."

"About as much as you,” Strahd replied, setting his glass down, “I never really paid attention to the politics of the pack. I only knew that Kiril was outcast-ed and banished from the pack, and returned to claim leadership... I do regret not being more involved with the pack... but I had enough to worry about with human politics."

 "Fair enough,” She sighed and looked through her other questions, "Alright, how do you have a were-bat form? How can you communicate while polymorphed?"

Strahd looked amused, "You could say it was a birthday gift from the Dark Powers. I increase in power in various ways as I age, and that giant bat form is one of them. As for communication..."

Strahd gestured to Ruki, "This one actually guided me as to how."

Linda blinked, "Alright. That answers some of my questions. I'm sure I'll come up with more later."

Rahadin returned to the dining hall, with ghostly servants carrying plates of food. Rahadin bowed, "My lord, as you requested..."

Despite herself, Linda’s stomach growled. There were lots of warm, dark breads, a beef stew with moderate spice, roast pheasant, and various root vegetables...

She didn’t question how it had been prepared so quickly, she was just hungry.

Strahd finished his second glass of blood and rose, "Eat your fill. I will be going to my study. I have to prepare your rewards.”

He turned to the elf, “Rahadin, when Linda is done, bring her to me first. Then I will let you know when I am ready for Aric. Then Ruki, you and I will have a small chat. Is this fair?"

Strahd looked to his nodding guests and replied, “Very well. Enjoy. I will take my leave,” Strahd walked silently out of the dining room.

Linda took the time to savor the richness of the food, the first real meal she had since arriving. She let her stomach become satisfied, but not full. She rose and looked to Rahadin, "I'm finished. Let's go."

Rahadin nodded curtly to her, and spoke to Aric and Jeeves with warning, "For your own safety. Remain here."

After taking satisfaction with their mortified expressions, Rahadin guided Linda. They walked up the grand staircase... into an empty, derelict throne room. Linda saw the tattered banners and lonely throne, contrasted to the fine dining room below... it seemed only certain rooms in the castle were upkept. They went through to another room, with scattered chests, papers... an old man sitting at a desk, sleeping... 

She had not much time to look before Rahadin took her up a flight of spiral stairs into... what appeared to be another dining room... but this had broken instruments, dust... and a table still set- but this one with rotten food and-

A wedding cake? But this wedding cake was green with age...

Linda shuddered, not wanting to see the state of the study.

Rahadin came to the door at the end of the private dining room and opened the door. “Lady,” he bowed his head.

Linda entered, agape. Without a doubt, this was the most beautiful room she had seen in the castle... It was warm and inviting. Bookcases were filled to the brim with several well cared for books. She could tell by the binding that not only were they ancient and rare, but each of them had been read... None of these books were for display.

An ornate fireplace had a roaring fire within it, lighting the room. Above the mantle was a portrait with a gold frame- its subject:

Is that Ireena? Wait... no... it has to be Tatayana...

Her stomach grew still and cold when she looked upon that face. It chilled her, despite the warmth of the room... she had to turn away from it.

There was Strahd, sitting at a large desk, reading his spell book. She blinked at him. He looked just like Vasili had... He was also no longer in formal wear, but a sensible white shirt, black trousers, and a red sash at his waist, a ruby pendant on his chest...

Very casual for him, but no less handsome. She batted the thought away and fixed her gaze on a coffer sitting next to him instead. 

She walked over to him. Strahd looked up from his spell book, and gestured to a plush chair in front of the desk.

“You may sit, Linda,“ he politely acknowledged her, “Thank you for joining me.“

Linda nodded her thanks and sat down. Strahd rose from his seat, setting his spell book down and walking over to her, opening the coffer to show her several rings within:

“I have rings of various resistances I have collected or made through the years...“ he listed, “Fire, Cold, Acid, Poison, Lightning, Force, Psychic... that one is a rather recent addition-” he chuckled, “but in any case, the choice of ring is yours. I myself wear a ring of Fire resistance."

Linda looked over the rings, and thought back to the creature from the wolf den, "I think I would like fire, just based on that ring that Mehmet has."

Strahd nodded and pulled a band from the coffer, granting the ring to her.

"Thank you,” Linda put the ring on, and looked to Strahd again.

Strahd sat at his chair and leaned back, musing, "You know... I was thinking of granting you a title... just granting you a ring seems... hardly enough for the services you have done."

"A title?" Linda was stunned.

He nodded, "I am lord of the land, and it is within my right to grant titles for service. I did so with many in my ranks when I reclaimed Barovia... and you have done great service for me.”

He listed, “You helped to protect Ireena from Donavich, you aided in her rescue from Izek, you helped to deal with everything in Vallaki and more... including not taking advantage of my weakness in the tower, and even defending me from an old enemy...”

Ah, so he did appreciate that, even though I felt like a fool after, Linda thought, numbly.

“...the entire battle at Krezk... I could continue to list the ways of which you have done more service... " Strahd sighed,  "Aric already is of noble rank, and Ruki is as well, though she cannot bear it publicly. It seems a shame to not grant one to you."

Linda blinked. She decided to tell the truth, "Well, the thing is... I have one already."

Strahd blinked, "Oh? Then it is no surprise that you are well suited in dealing with people... but... if you had a rank... why are you a tinkerer...?"

Strahd paused, realizing, "When we had first met, you said something about how your family was murdered... is this the reason you do not wear your rank?"

Linda nodded, sadly, "It is. My family was murdered for their money. If people found out that I survived and have the inheritance... my life would be in danger. My title is Baroness Melinda Sharaden."

She spoke the name she hadn’t gone by in years. Sharaden was a line of minor nobility that had risen to greater titles and lands by the keen planning of her father. A merchant baron. He bought enough land, rights, and titles to have that noble rank- and passed it on to her, his only daughter.

Strahd spoke, "Sharaden... A baroness?"

Strahd laughed.

Linda looked at him, shocked, and hurt. Why would he laugh at that?

Strahd seemed to read her mind,  "I see... no, I am not laughing to be rude... I just had a thought that amused me..."

She raised a brow and folded her arms,  "And what was that thought?"

"Well, if I wanted to increase your rank, I would have to marry you. It is a silly thought..." Strahd returned to the study of his spell book.

Linda blinked and felt herself blush, growing hot under the collar at the thought of marrying-

 "Well... that's not.... necessary. I don't need a new title..." she folded her arms tightly across her chest.

"Of course not- not when you already don't use the one you have..." he laughed quietly, "I'm sorry. That was rude of me."

Strahd looked up to the portrait of Tatayana above the fireplace... It always vexed and transfixed him. He could spend countless hours staring at her visage... wondering if there was anything different he could have done... anything at all so that they might be together...

But now, when he regarded the ancient portrait, it was with... a sense of guilt. How dare he laugh with this woman so earnestly? Why desire her? She was not the woman you killed for- or died for- over and over and over again...

Tatayana’s eyes seemed to water... ever so subtly...

In his mind he heard her voice: “Have you forgotten me, my love?”

Never...

 "So Strahd?" Linda’s voice beckoned him back to the present. Out of the spiral of guilt.

"Yes, my lady? What would you ask of me?" Strahd sat up, and brushed away his vexation. He decided to be more proper with this monster hunting baroness.

Linda fixed him with a hard expression, "Eight years ago, werewolves showed up in Daggerford. They appeared twice.”

She held up her fingers, “The first time they claimed to have been sent by you and were peaceful before leaving. Then, the next night, they came back and those hybrid things attacked. My partner, John, was killed by them.”

She held her eyes with his own, “I just wanted to know if what they claimed was true."

Strahd blinked and paused, "Eight?” he questioned. “By my recollection... it was last year that I discovered a portal to another world near the wolf den in Krezk. I asked Emil if he could send some of his pack to investigate, to see if they could breach into another world, and if so...”

He looked at the ceiling as he leaned back in his seat, “...was it safe for me to investigate a way to go through as well?”

He paused and returned his gaze to the woman, “I... never heard back from the expedition. Kiril took over not too long after."

So... Strahd wasn’t responsible for the attack after all. A little bit of relief washed over Linda, and her expression softened, "Alright. That answers that question. I suppose time changes traveling through portals from here. I already think time moves differently here...."

Linda thought about the rumors she had heard, and pondered,  "Do you actually control who comes and who goes from Barovia?"

Strahd sighed and clasped his hands together, “Here is the thing. The answer to that is both yes, and no. My control is extremely limited and circumstantial."

He held out one hand in demonstration, “I cannot control who comes in to my realm. I cannot sense if some poor farm boy stumbles into the mists, but I can sense the approach of powerful people. I cannot control if they come into my realm... But I can ask the Vistani to lure people here, either for revenge or aid, or knowledge..."

He held out his other hand,  "I can allow people to escape my borders. But I have no control over where they go, and no guarantee that they won't be sent by the Mists immediately back in. I was able to sever Barovia from other dread realms at great cost... but my control over the Mist is... I would say...”

He paused before concluding, “... above minimal, and fickle. My control over the land however... is much greater- but even then, I am bound by the confines of the Shadowfell. I cannot create souls, life force... anything in the domain of true gods..."

Linda folded her arms, musing, "Not all powerful, just powerful enough... so how is Sergei alive then?"

Linda could have sworn she saw the vampire flinch at his brother’s name, but only briefly. Strahd had excellent control over how he hid his true emotions.

 "I don't know...” Strahd admitted, “Probably resurrected by the Dark Powers to torment me... they will always find ways to get creative with how they cursed me... I am staying as far away from him as I can... say what you will about me- but I have never made the same mistake twice...”

He looked back at the portrait, sadly, his voice quiet, “Just... several mistakes with the same result."

Linda looked up to the portrait with him. Looked to Tatayana, her hauntingly lifelike visage... The woman whose life and death had brought him so much pain- and continued to pain him in different ways throughout the centuries.

But he loved Sergei too. She had read that much from his journals. If he could let go of his brother-

She turned back to Strahd, her voice soft, "Why don't you do that for her?"

There was no disguising his pain this time... but he wasn’t as closed off as he typically was. He spoke to her, tiredly, admitting, "I've always felt like I had to. It's... a compulsion...”

“I'll search for her because it is one of the few comforts I have... knowing that one of the only truly good things in my life will someday return...”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, “I'll search, and I'll search, and just when I've given up... there she will be... just a little bit stronger than before... but..."

He sighed in frustration, "She seems to know me less and less every time... and now with the Guardian possession, and the manipulation of her memories... I feel like there is no true way for me to... save her. I feel like I've let her down, and betrayed her..."

Linda scooted closer to him, "Look, Strahd. I'm not trying to overstep myself, but I think you should let her go.”

She gestured to the portrait, “This reincarnation stuff, not only does it hurt you, it hurts her. Ireena, no matter how much she looks like Tatayana, she isn't her.” 

Linda’s voice was firm, but not harsh, “Ireena is afraid of you. Maybe, the one thing you can do to save her is to let her live her life. The Dark Ones only have power over you if you keep getting caught in their game of torment. If her presence no longer consumes you, then maybe, you and her, will know peace and she won't keep dying."

Strahd glanced beyond Linda to the portrait... but only briefly. He settled his gaze on Linda, and blinked. She was being surprisingly earnest with him. He spoke quietly, "I'll take it into consideration. Right now, it seems like... that may be our only option... my only option...” he corrected.

“I... am sorry to drag you into this,” Strahd himself was now being earnest, “I've given you my word... I would pursue her no more until I had something figured out... and it seems that we do... even if I don't particularly like the results..."

Strahd leaned his head against his hand, and looked at Linda. He was being greedy with his time with her, rambling to this odd woman about things that had long remained unspoken... But he owed the same to his protegee and other guests... 

Perhaps an excuse for her to stay longer...? He thought about her notebook, Perhaps she has more questions?

He spoke, "Was there anything else you wanted of me, Lin- Lady Linda?" he corrected himself, remembering her noble rank.

"Drop the formalities,” she said gently, “Linda is fine. I don't expect to be treated differently. Especially not when we are alone. I am still Linda."

Strahd nodded, slightly disappointed, but accepting his small victory, "Very well. Thank you for your services. I will think on what you said... and have Escher escort you to the guest quarters. Do rest well... I know I will."

Strahd slightly smiled, "Pleasant dreams. Good night, Linda."

Linda found herself smiling back, despite herself,  "Good night, Strahd. Thank you for answering my questions."

Strahd allowed her to leave his presence, and glanced up to her as she rose from her chair and left. Escher would obey his summons and take her to the guest quarters. When she had left his sight, he turned back to his spell book...

A memory of obtaining Hearts Desire. Death had visited him long ago, in this very room, at this very spot where he read through tomes of ancient knowledge. He was more arrogant then... not listening to the old masters’ proclamations that there was no amount of magic to make someone truly love you...

It was only now, after three and a half centuries that he accepted that they were right. 

He put his spell book down... and looked at Tatayana.

He knew that he should let her go, but every fiber of his being cried against what his brain could comprehend, but his childish, selfish heart could not. 

How?

[dndeviants]

Pieces of the Past- The first reward.

All of the motley crew walked over to the Blue Water Inn, save for Vasili, who had split off from the group to take Vargas to the stockade, and inform the townsfolk of what had happened. 

Ireena and Ismark had been saved, they had a new ally in Victor Vallakovich, an ambitious young mage, rescued a man named Udo, who had run to the Cathedral after informing that there was yet another girl in danger, the missing Vistani child, Arabelle. 

They knew that wolf hunters, Yevgeni and Szoldar had her, having been paid off by Izek to use as bait in the oncoming Wolf’s Head Festival. 

With Vargas in bonds, Vasili split from the party to lock him in the town stockades and try to call the town to order, heading toward the square where the corpses of the thugs and Izek still laid. Terrified townsfolk whispered among themselves what this could mean, and wondering if Izek's death left them better off... or prey to something much worse...

They arrived at the Blue Water Inn, ready to investigate and find the missing girl before it was too late. Linda walked up to the Inn and opened the door.

Linda peered inside. The Inn was devoid of patrons. Nothing seemed suspicious to her, but she was on a mission to find and rescue Arabelle. Here was the best place to start.

She looked over and saw an obnoxiously dressed man: a young half-elf in purple and gold regalia with red accents thoughtfully nursing a mug of ale. The only other one in the Inn was the barkeep, a middle aged man with black hair and a neatly trimmed beard who was busy restocking wine and took only small breaks to write inventory.

Ruki walked into the Inn, noticing the half-elf immediately... It appeared that Rictavio, the doppelganger protege of Van Richten was still here in this timeline she had moved to... along with the wereraven Inkeep, Urwin Martikov...

She did not see the wolf hunters... but knew that both Rictavio and Urwin would be reliable sources of information. 

"Hello," Linda walked up to the man in purple.

Aric and Jeeves sat at a table nearby.

The half-elf looked almost startled by her approach, but smiled at Linda. “Ah, hello there!” he cooed, “Come to hear of the tales and adventures of the great Monster Hunter, Rictavio?” He took a sip of ale, “I usually perform at six bells in the evening... but for you ladies...” he winked at Linda and Ruki rakishly, “I can make an exception.”

Linda raised a brow, skeptically, “Ah, monster... hunter?” She gestured to an empty chair in front of him, “May I sit?”

Not even waiting for him to reply, Linda sat in front of him. Ruki walked forth and spoke to him in Elvish:

“A monster himself is a monster hunter?“

Both Linda and Rictavio looked to Ruki in shock.

Linda looked to Rictavio, then to Ruki, “What?”

Ruki shrugged, “I was merely greeting him in Elvish.”

Linda was offended by such a bold-faced lie, “No. You weren’t.”

Ruki blinked in realization, “You... understand Elvish, Lady Linda?”

Linda spoke to her in Elvish, “I’m fluent, actually.”

Ruki spoke dryly, “So it seems...”

Rictavio made a dismissive gesture, "I certainly have no idea what you mean, my dear... surely you jest... I am very honorable, and have worked in the service of humanity all of my life... If you want to, I can regale you with the tale of the time I met a wererabbit... elusive, tricky creature..."

He made a brief gesture, and an illusory image of a white rabbit with long fangs sat on the table.

Linda knew no such creature existed, she held out her hand, "Yes, yes. Wererabbits... tricky... so what did she mean by ‘monster’?"

“Cut to the chase, bard,“ Ruki intoned.

Rictavio’s brows quirked in a nervous expression. He spoke quietly, dropping the facade, and speaking in Elvish, "So there's no letting that go, is there...? How did you figure it out?"

Rictavio squinted at Ruki, and then blinked, “Ah, a Vistana... I should have known... but... I swear I don't know you... how do you know me?"

Ruki smiles, “That would be a long story...”

"I am a comrade...” Linda flashed her holy symbol that indicated that she was a member of a monster hunting order, “I also am a monster hunter. And don't worry, I care not to share secrets."

Ruki nodded, “But right now, we need your help. My cousin is missing. She was taken by wolf hunters. Have any information on where they went?”

“Wolf hunters? You must mean Yevgeni and Szoldar... they do hunt wolves that get too close to the town, but recently they had been hired by Izek to transport a special kind of bait... they didn’t seem too keen on the idea of helping him, but Izek is Izek... speaking of Izek...“

He turned to face Linda and squinted at her. She felt a small tingling sensation, as she realized that he was reading her mind. 

"He's dead?” Rictavio paused, “Gods, then that is what all the commotion is about..."

Linda nodded, "We killed him...” She turned to Rictavio, “And you're a doppelganger. I figured it out when you squinted."

Rictavio blinked and turned to Ruki, “I tried to keep it between the two of us, but she is smart...” He looked at them both, pleading, “I don’t want to hurt you ladies, but you if you know, then how soon will everyone else know? I wasn’t lying when I said that I was a monster hunter, you know. I have worked in humanity’s service! All I am here for is to find my uncle and Ez, and get the hell out before it is too late.”

“No one but us will know, you have a Vistana's word,” Ruki swore.

Linda held up her hands, "Look, I'm not here to out you. I have my own apprentice to find. Plus, I'm not like some other hunters. I have a good friend that is a doppelganger. I have no qualms with your kind that do their best to fit in."

Rictavio stared at them, and squinted, before relaxing, "Alright. Fine. I'll help you, you help me. Hunter's honor right? You are looking for a girl? I was wondering why that bag had a presence in it... Yevgeni and Szoldar have a cart in the stables, just on the back side of the Inn. You get there fast enough, you can tell them Izek's dead, and hopefully get them to cooperate with you."

Linda stood, "Thank you. Hunter's honor. I''ll be back."

“Thank you. If you are ever in need of a favor, you have Vistani support here,” Ruki rose and walked with Linda to the back.

Aric looked over to Jeeves, questioningly. He understood that they were all speaking in Elvish, but wasn’t fluent enough to understand. He switched over to his native Alzhedo: 

“Jeeves, what where they talking about?“

Jeeves looked over to Aric, smirking. He was fluent in Elvish and overheard the entire thing. And there would be nothing that he kept from his master, “Well, you see...”

Jeeves explained everything to Aric in Alzhedo as Linda and Ruki walked across the Inn...

They went to the door and listened out to the stables, and overheard voices...

“- Iss not right! To blazes wi’ Izek!“

"And you know what's going to be in blazes if we defy Izek? Our houses, our families, Yev!"

"We don't have tah! We can take them an' run! What's he gon' do? Run inta the wolf ridden woods?"

They heard a muffled voice... a little girl... “Mmmm-hmmm!

Linda yanked the door open, "Good news. We killed him."

"I killed him...” Ruki stepped out from behind Linda.

A couple of rough looking men wearing wolf pelts startled and stared wide eyed at the intruders, reaching instinctively toward their bows and swords... On the floor of the stable was a small girl with raven black hair and wide blue eyes... Arabelle, Ruki’s cousin, was tied and gagged. She tried to vocalize at Linda and Ruki, but couldn’t say any words...

One of the men lowered his hand, "You... killed Izek?"

Linda nodded, "Yes, with a few friends, but he is good and dead."

Ruki walked over to Arabelle, “He never good to begin with, but dead he is.”

“Right. She’s all yers, then,“ the wolf hunters happily left them.

Ruki untied Arabelle from her bindings while Linda ungagged her. 

Arabelle sighed, “I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just so you know! The burning guy grabbed me... and I told them that it was dumb what they were doing. But they didn’t listen to me! I bit the burning guy so they put a cloth on my mouth-” she smiled up at her cousin, “I knew you’d be here, Ruki!”

Arabelle stood up and rubbed her wrists, "I'm grounded, aren't I? I played too close to the town..."

Ruki shook her head, “No sister, you will not be grounded.”

“That’s a relief!“ Arabelle perked up.

Everyone was safe... Linda felt the urge for a drink to calm her nerves and relax after these hectic days. She sighed, “Let’s go back inside. I wanna drink.”

She turned and walked through the door, Ruki guiding Arabelle behind her. As soon as they entered the Inn, Linda walked over to the bar. Arabelle broke away from Ruki to run over to the bar as well.

Arabelle climbed up on a stool, and spoke to Urwin, “I need the hard stuff. You would not believe the day I am having.”

Everyone was stunned to see this little girl, no older than seven, asking the bartender for a drink. Ruki looked on in disbelief at her cousin.

“Arabelle!“ She cried out in embarrassed shock. She ran over to Urwin, “Give her some apple juice, please...“ 

Urwin nodded and pulled out spiced cider, pouring a glass for the girl. He handed it over,  "Here you go. Be careful. There's a lot of cinnamon."

Arabelle nodded gravely and stared at the mug, as Ruki paid Urwin for the drink. Ruki looked over questioningly to Arabelle.

Arabelle lifted the mug, “And then you chug it, right?”

"Yes!" Linda blurted out in uproarious laughter. 

Ruki gave Linda eyes full of daggers, before turning to her cousin, “Arabelle, that is not proper etiquette..” she made a gentle drinking motion with her hand to demonstrate, “You sip it... gently.”

The little Vistana looked to her cousin and rolled her eyes, “I am a child heir, not a princess!” she defiantly chugged her cider, sputtering and coughing with the strength of the cinnamon. 

Ruki sighed and pressed her fingers to her temples. Arabelle was a handful.

Rictavio stood from his table and walked between Ruki and Linda. He pat Linda on the back, "So, uh... that was quick. You sure do find people rather quickly now, don't you?"

Ruki dropped her hands to her side and turned to face him, “Indeed we do.”

Linda bought a mug of wine, and sipped on it. "I have a knack for it,” she said. “Hopefully, I can find my apprentice."

Linda looked around the Inn and saw that Ireena and Ismark had settled in and were visibly more relaxed and much better. Victor too, seemed to be more open once leaving the mansion. Linda hoped she would settle down as well, relax, and refocus on finding Timothy. She had barely finished her drink before the door to the Inn nearly flew open.

She turned and saw Vasili, uncharacteristically frustrated. She set her mug down, and looked to him with concern.

Vasili walked over to his companions and folded his arms, “It’s hell out there,” he made a gesture of disgust, “These people are stupid and infuriating...”

Ruki nodded and sipped on her wine, “Welcome to Barovia, my lord.”

"Can't reason with them?" Linda asked in a gentle voice. 

Before Vasili could answer, Aric voiced his disapproval, “A lord of your standing shouldn't be caught speaking of the citizens that way.”

Ruki laughed, “Master Aric, you have not had the pleasure of dealing with most of Barovia's populace.”

Vasili calmed himself, "I'm only an envoy, I have a lot more liberty to speak freely. And I can't help the truth. I'm just surprised there isn't an outright riot, but a few tomatoes seem to have mitigated the tension... for now. We need to find a replacement for Vargas quickly. This was all very impromptu, and I don't like the idea of having to be the stand in burgomaster of this town..."

Ruki raised her hand, “Allow me, My lord?”

Vasili sighed, “No, Ruki. I am afraid Madame Eva would not allow it... But it is tempting...”

"And why not you, Vasili?” Linda asked, “Also who is fit to be the new burgomaster?"

"Usually, that responsibility falls to the son of the burgomaster..." Vasili looked over to Victor.

Victor averted his gaze from Vasili and shrunk away from his stare.

Vasili turned back to Linda and gestured, “Victor is unfit.”

Victor sighed in relief, "Oh thank gods."

Linda folded her arms and shook her head, "Yeah.. I don't see you as a burgomaster..."

Victor turned to Linda, almost euphoric with relief,"Thank you!"

“The agreement was that I could not replace Lord Strahd...“ Ruki reminded Vasili, “I am simply asking for the title of Burgomaster.”

Aric nodded, thinking. He looked at Victor, “Well, you do have a point. There does need to be new leadership.” He gestured to the tiefling, “Ruki would be more loyal to Lord Strahd than the previous Burgomaster.”

Ruki sipped her wine, “Thank you, Master Aric.”

Vasili paused in thought, weighing his options. He conceded, "Lord Aric does have a point..."

Ruki set aside her mug, “Shall we put it to vote?”

Linda blinked in confusion,  "Like the whole town?"

Ruki chuckled, “No no, just among us.”

Vasili held out his hand, "It would just have to be approved by Lord Strahd after being approved by the locals."

Linda raised a brow, "You're on vacation, Vasili. How are we going to get Strahd's approval?"

Linda was not too keen on getting Strahd involved with the process. She felt the less contact Vasili had with the vampire, the better. 

Arabelle blurted out, "I'd vote for Ruki. She dresses the nicest."

Ruki held up her finger, “Shh. Let the adults discuss, Arabelle...” she turned back to the others, “I too am Lord Strahd's Envoy. I could get his approval.”

She turned to Vasili, and reached out to the man under the mask: Lord Strahd. Approved or denied, my lord? she asked him.

Strahd’s voice was clear and calm. I approve. But you need general support so you don't risk being overthrown.

These people overthrow me? Ha. Ruki found the idea laughable.

To everyone else, Vasili appeared deep in thought,  "I could send a letter...” he offered, “...or just approve it myself... I mean, I do have a writ of authority. So I can make decisions on his behalf. And if he doesn't like it... then he can revoke my privileges."

Vasili shrugged as Ruki smirked.

Linda sighed. It would have to do. 

"Alright, so who would be up for vote?" she asked.

Ruki gestured, “Myself or Lord Vasili.”

Ireena finally stood and offered her opinion, "Perhaps also someone that does have a better understanding of the people, and has been more or less trained for the position?"

Ruki raised a brow, “And who do you have in mind, Lady Ireena?”

Linda shrugged, "I was thinking someone who lives in the town. The people are more likely to vote for someone they trust. Unlike the envoys of Strahd... no offense."

Ireena paused, "Well either one of the ruling families that live here, or someone who can empathize with the people and actually can envision a better future for the people. I would volunteer. No offense, but Vasili's open contempt for dealing with people, and Ruki's... closed off personality... doesn't exactly make for good government. And I get that your jobs are difficult, but I think its just made you too bitter to see how scared these people are. All it takes is one person to stand up to tyranny like Vargas and Izek. I stood up. Everyone saw... and because you rescued me, I lived... and that would give them hope. If you entrust me with Vallaki, I promise, I could turn it around."

Ruki thought for a moment, and nodded, “I will concede and lend support to Lady Ireena.”

Vasili looked at Ireena, calculating. Finally, and reluctantly, he conceded as well, "Alright, if you are certain of this. Your father is well known here, and you do make good points. And Vallaki is relatively safe with its walls... But you need more public backing if you really mean this."

Linda raised a hand, "That does bring up a point that the people living here don't really know you. Only know of you. Who are the ruling families?”

"The Wachters,” Vasili answered, “The only boyars that live in Vallaki anymore."

Ruki gestured to Urwin, “How about the bartender? The people love bartenders.”

Everyone looked over to Urwin. He paused in his cleaning, and shrugged, "I'm neither here nor there about it. I see most of the town everyday and already hear most of their problems. I've just never been in a position to fix any of them... Just ease the hurt with a little inebriation."

Linda raised an eyebrow. Ruki may have just been delivering an offhanded comment but...

 "That may work," said Linda.

Everyone turned their gazes to Linda. 

Urwin was baffled, "Are you... serious?"

"Dead serious,” she replied, “These people know you. You know their grievances. I would bet you would get most of the votes."

Urwin paused, "I'll consider it... but there is something I need done before I can actually do it."

He took out a list of inventory, "If I step up to take the position of burgomaster, I have to step down from the position of Innkeeper, and I can't leave my poor wife Danika running the Inn when we are low on supplies... the Wizard of the Wines are a month behind in shipping. We need wine to run the Inn... If you can check on the rest of my family over there, and get the shipment back, I will step down from being innkeeper... and..."

Urwin pulled out a brightly colored band, "I'll even throw in this ring I found as payment."

Aric perked up when he saw the band... Jeeves’ eyes widened. They both recognized the ring as one of the Qysari rings they were after... specifically, the Annulus Conflagros.

Aric stood, eager, “I'm sure that will be no problem us. We can get your wine, check on your family, and be back as soon as possible.”

Urwin looked over to Aric with an odd expression, then nodded his relief, “Thank you.”

Linda stood, "I'm ready to go."

Ireena raised her hand, “Linda, it is getting late... we maybe have three more hours until sunset... if we have to leave Vallaki- can we please stop by the church first.”

Linda felt a pang of guilt for forgetting her promise, "Of course-"

"I wanna go home!" Arabelle blurted.

“Very well, I will take you back to Madam Eva...” Ruki replied.

Arabelle hopped off her seat and ran over to Vasili, “Carry me, uncle!”

“Arabelle, manners!“ Ruki cried out in exasperation.

Vasili smiled in amusement, and lifted Arabelle onto his shoulders, gently chiding Ruki, “There is no harm in it. You used to like doing this too, Ruki.”

Ruki blushed in embarrassment. Linda blushed as well, feeling strangely attracted to Vasili’s gentleness with the child. 

She cleared her throat and nodded to Ireena, “We can all go,” she turned to the disguised doppelganger, "Rictavio, coming with? We may just run into who you're looking for."

Rictavio looked with distrust to Vasili, then smiled back to Linda, "Oh yeah! Sure! I will meet you at the church I suppose. I have stuff to pack in my room. I can talk to you more about my uncle later."

Rictavio retreated upstairs.

Victor hurriedly grabbed his spellbook, "O-o-outside town? For real? Oh gods... Finally!"

The skeletal cat seemed to purr in agreement.

Linda put her hands on her hips, "We will be coming back in- but yes, out of Vallaki."

Ireena pulled Ismark to his feet, "I think we should meet the Vistani this time, brother!"

Ismark begrudgingly stood, "Sure. Maybe there will be less trouble then..."

Ruki stepped outside and conjured mists for everyone to step through. A single moment passed, and when the mist cleared, they found themselves just outside the encampment. 

The Vistani seemed unusually surprised at the arrival of visitors, but when they saw Arabelle on top of Vasili’s shoulders, the encampment erupted into cheers and swarmed up to the party, showering them with praises in Patterna.

Luvash stepped out of his tent to see the commotion, and paused when he saw Arabelle and Vasili. Vasili let Arabelle off of his shoulders, and watched her rush over to her father. Arabelle latched onto Luvash’s legs and looked down to her feet, apologizing.

“I’m sorry to worry you, Papa...“

Luvash fell to his knees and hugged her tight, growling, "Those giorgios should be sorry for laying a hand on you! I am just glad you are alright!"

Madame Eva emerged from her wagon, and gently prodded Luvash with her cane, "Don't you have something to give to them, Luvash?"

Luvash nodded and stood, holding on to his daughter’s hand. "Follow me to my treasure wagon," he commanded.

The party followed the man to a wagon that was adorned with vibrant paint. He parted golden curtains from the back and granted each of the party two hundred pieces of electrum, as well as a single book with tattered binding. It appeared to be... centuries old.

The handwriting was faint, but Linda could make out the title... I, Strahd... Her heart lurched. Was this the Vampire’s own journal?

Vasili seemed surprised to see the tome and turned to Luvash, accusingly, "How long have you had that?!"

Ruki played off her recognition. “It seems centuries old...”

Linda reached out her hands to hold it, her heart pounding, "Can I see?"

Luvash held his gaze evenly with Vasili as he handed the journal over to Linda.

Everyone gathered around her in curiosity. Ireena seemed stunned as she turned to her brother, “Wait... Ismark... doesn’t this look... familiar to you?”

 "The writing matches the pages we found when we were younger!" Ismark exclaimed.

Victor could also barely contain his surprise, "Wait, you found strange book pieces too?"

Linda turned to them, her voice firm, "Let me see them."

They all took a moment to fumble through their belongings and hand Linda their fragments. A quick glance at the writing told Linda that they were all the same hand... but the pages were... illegible from being exposed to the elements.

"Yeah, these are from this..." Linda did her best to hide her discouragement.

Madame Eva hobbled over to Linda and gave her one final piece of the tome, then turned to Vasili, "Vasili will fix them for you... won't you?"

For the briefest moment, anger washed over Vasili- but the moment passed, and he barely smiled at Linda, “Of course... gladly...”

Vasili sighed and approached Linda, "I suppose I shall have to add the one I was entrusted with as well..."

He reached into his pack and removed a fragment that was in considerably better condition than the other pieces that Linda had. He took the other fragments from Linda and began to cast spells to restore the pages, the leather, the writing...

Before their eyes, the age vanished, the leather brightened, and the grime, soot, and mud faded into nothingness... But it was clear from the thickness of the leather, and the space between the pages... 

That this was only half of the journal.

Linda raised a brow, wondering what could have happened to it. 

Vasili held onto the journal for a bit, his expression conflicted. He reluctantly gave it back to Linda. Linda held on to the journal, and spoke quietly, “Thank you.”

Ismark peered over her shoulder, "Wow, it looks almost brand new... wait... this-” the title became clear for him to see, “this is Strahd's journal!"

Linda simply nodded.

Victor grew pale, "We-we were holding onto those things all this time..."

"We need to find the rest of it." Linda was determined.

Ruki folded her arms, “I suggest reading it to understand Lord Strahd a little better...”

Vasili spoke gently, "Please... keep in mind that this was centuries ago."

“I'm sure not much has changed...” Ruki smirked.

"How long have you had your piece Vasili?” Linda asked, gesturing to the group, “They found theirs when they were kids... so not too long?"

Vasili paused, "I've had it not long after the original was destroyed by Van Richten. I spent days painstakingly trying to find them for Strahd, and only found the one. It was... a few years before I adopted Ruki."

Linda looked over to Vasili, perplexed by his strange manner. She knew that he was telling the truth, but she definitely felt like she was missing... something. This was also the second time she had heard about Van Richten in this realm... Vasili’s behavior in regard to Strahd went into something a little too... obsessive for just a lowly envoy. He was hiding something. But she couldn’t tell what...

She squinted at Vasili, "I know you're hiding something... what I don't know yet."

Vasili looked to Linda, a little offended, "I have not lied for any of the questions you have asked me."

Madame Eva cackled, hobbling around on her cane.

Ruki made a dismissive gesture, “I am sure we all have something to hide...” she glanced to the side, “Especially Jeeves...”

Jeeves gazed with distrust to Ruki, unsheathing his shortsword slightly, "What do you know?"

Ruki was unfazed, “Nothing, that is my point.”

Linda asked Vasili, "How did you find your fragment? Where? Maybe we can pinpoint where the others are."

Vasili wrapped himself in his cloak, "At the base of Castle Ravenloft. I worked alongside his wolves, but only found the one piece before I ran into complications."

Still telling the truth, but still hiding something all the same. Damn, he was good at that. She pressed him more, "Complications, what happened?"

"I ran into a fanatic and decided it was better to escape with the fragment I had, than risk injury or death dealing with that unpleasantness."

Linda paused, "Geez. So Ravenloft, Barovia Village, and Vallaki... we should continue to look in the area for more."

Vasili sighed and seemed a bit discouraged, "Yes, more fragments... why are we searching for these fragments again?"

Madame Eva smirked, "Knowledge of the ancient will help you defeat your enemy."

Vasili glared, "And who exactly is the enemy here?"

Madame Eva shrugged, "That is for you to discover. You should have nothing to worry about." 

 Ruki raised a brow at Eva and spoke in Patterna, “And if the enemy is himself?”

Madame Eva nodded, and returned, "He is his own enemy. He needs to learn to trust."

Linda put the journal in her pack, "Never-the-less, any knowledge is good to have."

Ruki muttered under her breath, “Careful what you wish for Lady Linda.”

Linda turned to her party, "To the church? Then to the wine?"

Aric nodded, “I think that is the plan, yes.”

"Fare you well, and thank you..." Madame Eva called out. She watched the party leave, and sighed, turning back to her wagon, and climbing in. Her bones creaked and ached with the burden of centuries on her. She relaxed in her tent and poured herself a cup of tea. 

Yes, he had to learn to trust again. He had come so close before... he could do it again... 

She pulled out a card from her Tarokka deck... Mists... 

It was always the Mists...  

She saw a brief image in her minds eye... something a little too faint to make out now... only time could bring clarity... 

But she had the distinct feeling...

There were things in the Mists... things that did not like it when their dominion over Time, Destiny, and Fate had been defied...

The consequences of her actions would soon catch up to her.

[dndeviants]

Winery

They trudged into the rustic building, carefully trying to wipe their boots clean of mud, as to not track it through everywhere, save for Strahd, who simply snapped his fingers and muttered: “Presto.”

All traces of mud vanished from him. He walked forward into the winery proper, lost in his thoughts on the druids and what could possibly be at Yester Hill. 

Inside the room was a set of four large vats of wine that spanned almost two floors. Stairs led up to a balcony where the tops of three of the vats were exposed, the last one was not in use. 

Jeeves looked to his master, “Well, my lord? Shall we abide by Lord Strahd's request?"

Aric folded his arms, "I don't feel like we can trust those druids, so how can we be sure they aren't all poisoned?” he paused, “I guess the decision is yours, if you are up to it."

Jeeves shrugged in amusement, "If they are or aren't, I get a complimentary wine sampling. A very rare treat. May as well take advantage of the opportunity."

“True,” Aric shrugged in return, “Hopefully, it's good wine?"

Jeeves walked up the stairs to his left and pulled a ladle off the wall. He sat in front of the first vat and scooped up a small sample of the wine. He sniffed, and took a small portion to taste, and wrinkled his face in disgust.

“No, not poisoned... but this is-“ he paused and shook his head, choking, “-whew- how do your people drink this stuff? It tastes like bad medicine and rubbing alcohol!“

Strahd blinked, stirred from his thoughts, and walked over next to Aric to read the label on the first barrel:

"Grapemash No. 1. The cheapest of the wines,” Strahd pointed to the label, “More on the side of brandy. Not noted for its flavor, but more to the quick effect of intoxication. It was not my favorite."

"All due respect, it isn't mine either..." Jeeves stood up and flicked the remaining liquid back into the vat, "On to the next."

He sat at the next one, and completed the same ritual of smelling and tasting. He raised a brow and tilted the ladle, "Not bad. Still a little strong, but this is tasting more like wine. It's a little heavy on the tannin flavor, but also sweet. What is this one?"

Strahd read the next label, "Ruki's favored wine. The Red Dragon Crush."

Linda walked over to look at the label Strahd was at and exclaimed, “Oh, I like that one!” She pulled out her bottle to compare it, and decided to indulge herself. She looked around for a glass and poured herself a drink. She sat down at a table in the room and took out her journal, scribbling notes to herself in shorthand.

Jeeves noted the wine and stood up, “On to the next... here we go...” 

Jeeves sat over at the last vat. He went through his tasting process, and grimaced. He steadied himself, and gripped onto the railing. He shook his head and breathed slowly. 

"This one,” Jeeves declared, “This one is the poisoned one... which is a pity. This was probably the best one... Sweet, but not too sweet. Not alcoholic grape juice. And kind of bubbly?"

"That would be the Champagne du le Stomp...” replied Strahd, “That one is poisoned you say?"

Jeeves nodded, wincing as the poison took effect... but he was far better off than anyone else. He had trained himself to be resistant to all kinds of poisons. This one was no different.

Strahd sighed, "As entertaining as the thought may be to let the most expensive wine wipe out the boyars entirely... I still cannot allow this to pass. We'll have to empty the vat, its unusable... the winery will suffer financially as well."

Strahd folded his cloak around him, "It can't be helped."

Aric stepped forward, raising his hand, "Actually, I may have something that will help."

Jeeves and Strahd looked over in surprise.

“Oh?“

“Indeed?“

Aric nodded, "The ring we recovered from the Abbot had a few useful spells stored in it; I should be able to purify the wine."

Aric walked up to the vat, and held out his hand. He felt the magic stored in the Annulus Qysaris Minor flow out of the ring.

He watched as a spark of magic flowed out from the ring and enveloped the vat with a sphere of energy. It hummed for a few minutes, purifying the wine before fading out. He was certain the effect of the spell worked.

Hmm... the ring feels... lighter, somehow, he noted. It seemed using the spell for purifying food and drink made room for another.

Jeeves clutched at his stomach, feeling the full effect of the poison. He grit his teeth and leaned against the vat."I'll be fine... it won't last much longer... it's almost done."

Strahd walked over to the vat curiously, “Did it work?” he looked to Jeeves, “Are you going to survive?”

"I've had worse... from wyverns..." Jeeves sighed as the poison worked its way out of his system, "I think I'll live at least until tomorrow. As for whether or not the spell worked... I think I could risk another taste."

Jeeves scooped out one last taste of the wine, and nodded, "Much better. You should have some, Lord Aric."

Aric walked up the stairs to join Jeeves and took a small sip. It was bubbly and light on his tongue, very light in weight for a red wine, and much sweeter than he was used to. The slight tannins made the sweetness bearable. It hardly tasted like alcohol, but the alcohol was very present.

Fine indeed, Aric mused.

Linda finished writing her notes and looked back over everything...

Tatayana... mists... Marina... mists... Alina... mists... Strahd... why would he do that to himself?

 She closed Strahd’s journal and packed it up in her bag. She looked up to him, and stood up. She saw an empty room just beyond and walked over to the Vampire.

She lightly touched his arm, “Hey Strahd, can I talk to you?"

Strahd turned to her, "You may."

"In private?" She stared into his eyes, questioningly. 

Strahd raised a brow, "I suppose."

She nodded, and quietly replied, "Alright."

She tilted her head to the back room, and began to walk in. Strahd followed her, warily. She entered fully into the room, but Strahd kept to the side, leaning against the wall, not going any further from the door he came in.

He spoke quietly, "What do you wish to talk to me about?"

Linda sat down, and pulled out the Strahd’s journal, completed. She looked to him, "I read the last piece. And I had a few questions."

He glanced at the journal, then back to Linda, his tone wary, "Alright. What, pray tell, are your questions?"

She opened the journal and gestured to a space in between everything, "Well, there are some pages obviously missing... I was just wondering what happened."

Strahd blinked and looked at the section in question, then laughed, "The War against Azalin happened. The lich was spying on what I wrote, so I kept a fake journal in that book, and wrote my real thoughts and feelings elsewhere. When the threat was handled, I removed the false journal. I... didn't return to writing in that one for a time. I started to- but then Van Richten happened."

Linda was surprised at the existence of another, separate journal, "Oh, is there a way I could read those too?” she thought about his wariness, “Or, you could tell me what happened. I know a little from that history book, but I don't know how much is true."

Strahd inspected Linda, and walked a little further in the room, making a flippant gesture, as he let his cloak fall from his hands, "I don't see the harm in it. You've read the darkest moments in my life- unlife- already. If you haven't read anything that will spur you to betrayal... then I doubt you ever will."

Linda was surprised at this gesture of trust from him. She smiled, "I can assure you I haven't thought of it once."

Strahd looked at Linda for a moment. That smile... He shifted to standing upright, and folded his hands respectfully behind his back. He tilted his head, "Is that all you wished to ask of me?"

Linda paused and shook her head, "I wanted to ask about Tatayana...” she averted her gaze from him, and looked to the journal, “In here you wrote that she disappeared into the mists as you fell. Does that always happen? She just dissolves... no body... ever?"

Strahd nodded, his voice was hollow, "The mists... have always taken her. I've never been given the right to lay her to rest. Ever since she jumped from Castle Ravenloft's balcony... she has vanished into mists when she dies...”

He looked to her, “Preventing me from resurrecting her... preventing me from burying her. I gain no solace after her demise."

She looked to him, apprehensively, "Don't you think that is odd? She is the only one that that happens to, right?"

Strahd stared forward, almost as if he was looking through Linda, "Yes. She is the only one besides me. Every time she or I perish, our bodies become mist until we are somehow reborn."

"Well for you that is normal, you're a vampire. They all do that and go back to their coffin. But she isn't. I just think it's odd."

"I've not given it much thought,” he admitted, “It is just... a cyclical thing, it seems. I've always attributed it to the Dark Powers toying with me. I've never investigated the matter. Whatever is Mist here, is their domain. The sole exception being the Vistani."

Linda looked at Strahd, her voice quiet, but sympathetic, "Then Tatayana is their domain.”

She rose from the table and walked forward, and put a hand on his shoulder, speaking gently, “I still stand by what I said. I think this whole cycle is hurting you...”

She looked down, “You even wrote that you tried to end your suffering to be with her after she has died... and that just caused you more pain. How many times did it take for you to realize that it never worked?”

A little pain shot through Linda as she spoke, “When was the last time, Strahd? Because I don't want you to do that to yourself. You don't have to suffer, Strahd. I want to help you, but you need to want to help yourself-”

She shook her head, and bit back tears, trying to keep her voice steady “-and not wanting to live- exist anymore isn't going to end your suffering..."

Strahd blinked, and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it numbly. He was almost overwhelmed by the amount of... compassion for him... that he didn’t know exactly how to respond. He raised his hand to hers on his shoulder, and spoke quietly, “The last time... I tried to end my existence?"

She looked up at him and nodded, rubbing her eyes with her free hand. 

Strahd paused, and brought her hand off of his shoulder and held it in both of his own, "After Alina... I realized it was fruitless effort. That may as well have been the last time... I actively sought my own destruction."

Strahd shrugged, "After that... since I couldn't cause my own destruction... I left it to others to try and find a way... I wanted one of three things... To win Tatayana finally... to escape... or to be at rest- forever."

Strahd shook his head, “When adventurers or bandits came in my realm, seeking to destroy me or to lay waste to what little I had... I fought within my own codes. I suffered little foolishness for others... but at times... at times of loss for me... I did not go above and beyond to preserve my existence.”

He let go of her hand, “After Tatayana's many deaths... I just... felt numb. Certainly, I could kill many a person that troubled me... but I gave so many the opportunity to grow in power, to see if they too succumbed to the mists... and if one of them managed to finally slay me? So be it."

She sighed in hurt frustration, "You don't have to do that anymore. This is the last time, alright? We will get out. All of us...” 

She turned back to the table and rubbed her temples. Strahd reached for her, but decided against touching her, and forced his hands behind his back.

Linda nodded to herself, “I just need to look into these Dark Powers more. I think the next step is get everyone safe and prepare to find the Amber Temple."

 She packed away the journal and her notes, "Sorry, I had to ask those questions,” She turned back to him, “I know they aren't easy to answer, but I really just need to know things if I am to be able to help you."

"You aren't... upset?” Strahd was bewildered, “If things would have gone their natural course... I would have certainly have been your enemy... and if you found a way to destroy me... I am not certain I'd try to stop you."

Strahd sighed, "I know it is selfish. I have those who depend on me..." Strahd glanced backward to look at Ruki enjoying herself and sipping on the Red Dragon Crush. 

"It's the only thing that motivates me anymore."

Linda shook her head, "No, Strahd. As I said earlier, I have not thought of betraying you even once,” she looked to him, "Everyone can be selfish at times. That is a mark of humanity. So is jealousy, envy, sadness, worry... any emotion. They don't make you weak. They just make you more human."

Strahd pondered her statements,  "Alright. I suppose... do you have any more questions for me?" He looked to her, curiously.

“One last one,“ she admitted. She savored his confusion before asking, “Do you trust me?“

“I-“

Strahd paused and looked at this baffling woman. Trust was not something he gave lightly, ever. But she seemed to bring things forth from him so freely... 

The answer was obvious, even if he didn’t like it.

“Yes, I do.“

Linda smiled, “Good,” she pat his shoulder as she passed him, “Let’s rejoin the others.”

Strahd stood dumbfounded for a moment, before collecting himself and exiting behind her.

Linda clapped her hands, “So, what's the plan now that the wine is fixed?"

Aric stood, "I suppose we should let them know that the druids are gone."

Linda nodded, “Alright, outside it is then."

Jeeves sighed, "Back into the rain..."

"Yup. Let's get it over with..." Linda adjusted her pack and went to the door.

Strahd turned himself back into a tiny bat and fluttered over to Ruki. He reached out to Linda, “Thank you.”

Linda blinked, but half smiled. Those words were quiet and somber but they carried a lot of meaning. They walked out and trudged down the muddy path, heading back to the old man.

“Ya get rid of them?“ He asked.

Aric replied, "Fairly easily actually. They also poisoned your Champagne du le Stomp, but we were able to purify it."

The old man sharply inhaled, "They did what? You did what?! Well... sure. You have my thanks... ya saved me a pretty penny... You tell Urwin I'll have his wine to him in the next day or so. I'll even set something aside fer ya when I send it."

He paused, "I suppose... you couldn't go to Yester Hill... run one more errand for me? Get back the gem. Or else that is gonna be the last batch of Champagne du le Stomp I get to make."

Aric asked, “How far is Yester Hill?”

The old man pointed south south, "Hour down the road that-away. If'n ya like, you can rest up inside until the rain passes."

"It doesn't sound too far away,” Linda looked to the rest of her group, “You guys wanna head there now or rest up first?"

Aric folded his arms, "Let's rest first, see if the rain stops,and then head out."

The old man pointed to the winery, "Head on in, then. Let my family cook ya up somethin'. I know it's nighttime, an' ya shouldn't eat late, but some good ol' fashion grog should fix ya right up."

They were happy to oblige.

[dndeviants]

Corrupt Cronies

Linda rushed forward to Ismark, gripping the wounded man’s shoulders. "Which way did he take her?"

Ismark caught his breath and pointed south of the square, "He took her that way... Linda, this town is bad! So many people saw what was happening, and they did nothing! I was trying to threaten to go to the Burgomaster, but... everyone just.... kind of stared at me..." Ismark’s eyes began to water in frustration, "I'm... not used to that. At least in the village, we try to help each other."

Ruki nudged Vasili’s arm, and spoke, “My lord, I do believe that we must free this town of its corruption- for Lord Strahd's sake...”

"Forget Lord Strahd's sake...” a righteous anger crept into Vasili’s voice, “Let's free the village of its corruption, since the people are too frightened to do it for themselves!"

Everyone advanced forward, townsfolk parting from their way, and hurriedly leaving the Burgomaster and his cronies as the party came forth, filled with anger and purpose... Aric and Jeeves stayed back, and disguised their approach, aiming to be as inconspicuous as possible.

As they got closer to the Burgomaster, the townsfolk had almost completely vanished, much to Vargas Vallakovich’s confusion and ire. The burgomaster of Vallaki puffed himself up to make him appear taller and more authoritative, placing a hand over his breastplate for dignity... In contrast, his thuggish brute of an assistant stood beside him loyally... a demonic arm crackling with hellish embers was his most prominent feature... second, his soulless eyes.

They were both surrounded protectively by a guard wearing special colors, which appeared to be no more than hired mercenaries and thugs.

"Vargas! What is the meaning of all this?" Vasili fumed.

Vargas Vallakovich spun to face Vasili, triumphant. He smirked and strutted to the end of the stage he stood atop of, and held out his arms in a welcoming gesture, that was also quite mocking,  "Well, Vasili!” The Burgomaster laughed, “I was wondering when you'd return, groveling for your master...Despite your rudeness in neglecting my title, I will let you know... All of this-” he waved about to the posters, the banners, and the stage, “-is the step toward liberation! Finding happiness through celebration! Eliminating all the spies for the Devil... Now, you have a chance to cut your ties, and join us! You know it is only a matter of time before the Devil is deposed..."

"Not likely," Vasili spoke quietly, but firmly.

Vargas was stunned at Vasili’s response, but before he had a chance to retort, Ismark rushed up with Linda in tow. He pointed to the man with the demonic arm.

“That’s the one!“ Ismark shouted, “It’s him, he has my sister!“

Vargas looked confusedly over to his assistant, “What is this one on about, Izek?”

Izek looked over to the Burgomaster, “The boy lies...” his voice was harsh and gravelly.

Linda looked at the man and cracked her knuckles. Lowering her voice to a threatening tone, she growled, "Seems like we have a kidnapper. I don't take kindly to that."

Vargas looked over the motley assembly, unimpressed. He turned to Izek, patting him on the shoulder, "Well, you know what to do. I have decorations to make, and my wife is making tea, and my boy...” He shakes his head in disgust, “Well, the lazy sod will probably need to be disciplined for something. Take care of them Izek."

Vargas began to walk away, whistling a bright tune. Izek and the remaining “guard” readied their weapons.

Izek laughed quietly, pulling out his axe, “Ready boys? You heard the burgomaster... let’s take care of these killjoys...”

Linda whipped out her revolver, not waiting for the men to get anywhere near them. She aimed at Izek, and fired two quick shots-

Izek still stood. Smugly.

Her stomach lurched...She did hit him- she was certain of it....

So why was he still standing?

Then she saw his wounds... Horrible, and bleeding now, but he didn’t seem to notice... didn’t seem to feel pain.

What kind of man is this?! she screeched in her own head.

Leaping from the shadows, Jeeves managed to get around the posse surrounding Izek like a shield... One swipe of the shortsword, another swipe... the purple poison glistened as it slid through flesh.

Jeeves stood, waiting for the man to fall. Instead, Izek only staggered and turned to face Jeeves.

“Is that all?“ The man droned, his hollow eyes piercing through Jeeves...

Jeeves froze. Then he saw the glow of the flaming arm...

Instinctively, he dodged out of the way and rolled underneath the stage- and was glad that he did...

Izek roared as his arm glowed with a fiery, demonic fury- his own men scattering as a balls of flame hurled indiscriminately through the square...

Linda ducked behind a crate filled with paper lanterns. She cursed herself as those went up in flames and singed her leather jacket. She pat out the flame and reloaded her revolver, not hurt at all by the attack.

Ruki and Vasili ducked behind a column, but the cover only helped them minimally. Small flames licked at their feet and burned through their shoes.

Ismark had no time to even think before a large ball of flame knocked him off of his feet and slammed him into the ground. He laid there, unmoving.

Izek laughed at the sight. Ruki hopped up onto the stage, filling her staff with her psionic power, and rushing Izek. She slammed him twice, hearing bones break underneath his skin.

But again, Izek stood. Calm. Uncaring. He took his battleaxe from off of his back and made one feral strike against Ruki.

Ruki managed to dodge the devastation of the attack, but still felt her blood rush up as the man slashed her arm. She grit her teeth, and psychically boosted her strength to lessen the damage she had taken.

The guard took advantage of the chaos caused by Izek and rushed the scattered party members... Two went on stage and tried to clobber Ruki with their batons, a guard ran under the stage to corner Jeeves, Three guards ganged up on Linda and begin to try and beat the gun away from her...

A few guards made swipes at Vasili...

Aric looked at the situation and decided his next move... no one had spotted him yet... and it looked like Linda was in need of the most help. He quickly backstabbed one of the guards accosting Linda, killing him... then struck at one of the remaining two, before dodging back to his hiding place...

That should throw them off, he thought.

Vasili unsheathed a longsword and made a cleaving motion in front of him, crimson splashing on the pristine silver of the blade. The guard clutched at his wound, and fell to his knees, screaming in pain. Vasili coldly cut off his scream- and his head- with the return strike.

Linda’s eyes widened as she saw that, but heard a moan on the other side of the field... she looked over and saw that it was coming from Ismark... she felt a bit of relief.

He’s still alive...

Back on the stage, Izek swung his battleaxe at Ruki. “This one is mine!” He barked at the guards.

Ruki pulled her staff up for protection, and grit her teeth as the man began bludgeoning her with the blunt of the axe... she had to focus her psionic power just to keep up...

Linda pulled out her machete and kicked away the guards, swinging her machete to keep them off of her. She felt resistance as the machete met the upper arm of one of them, but fought through it anyway. The guard screamed curses at her, clutching his arm.

Jeeves hid from the guard pursuing him and crept back on stage... Izek was the biggest threat, and it seemed that his injuries were adding up... He may not have been able to feel them... but his body was suffering all the same. He took his short sword and plunged it into his back- making the brute pause in his barrage assault on Ruki.

“Now!“ Jeeves cried out.

Ruki did not need to be told again. In one burst of strength and psychic energy, she struck Izek square in the chest. He twitched for a moment, the light fading from his soulless eyes as he fell first to his knees, then thudding face down on the floor of the stage.

A silent pause fell over those fighting. Izek’s fall seemed to spook most of the remaining guards; some drop their weapons and run. But a few stand and ready themselves for the fight’s end...

Aric took the opportunity first, picking off one of the remaining guards with his rapier, and hiding again. It was a tried and true strategy.

Vasili also spared no time for pity, brutally cutting down the man in front of him... and then elegantly, and quickly passing through the ranks of the guards to get by Ruki’s side...

Ruki’s heart dropped, What are you doing? she fumed in her head. It would do no good for Strahd if the others noticed him using his vampiric powers... She quickly looked over the other members of her party... None of them seemed to notice his approach to her. Good. She brushed aside the observation, resolving to reprimand him later.

Linda shot at the guards in front of her, dropping them. Jeeves struck down a guard, focusing on finding Aric.

Ruki scanned the field... she saw the burgomaster, still casually strolling on, oblivious that his assistant had fallen. Infuriated, she filled her steps with psionic power and advanced down his path, getting close enough to thrust herself into his mind.

Stop. Now. she commanded.

Vargas Vallakovich stopped whistling abruptly, and clutched his head from the sudden intrusion, “Wha- not the voices!” he cried.

“VARGAS!“ Ruki roared, “You are not fit for the title of Burgomaster!“

Vasili was distracted by Ruki’s outburst and didn’t notice the remaining guard swinging a mace at him. The mace made contact with Vasili’s head, and the guard became giddy, thinking he had downed the man. He made a return swing-

Only to be caught by Vasili’s hand, which stops the mace in its tracks. The guard looked at his restrained mace in shocked terror, then up to Vasili, whose eyes were glowing red.

Aric saw Ruki mentally assaulting Vargas, and fidgeted with his ring... He decided to help Ruki keep the Burgomaster in place, and test out the Qysari ring at the same time. He tapped into the ring’s power...

A spectral wall of glimmering blades appeared in the alley, cutting off Vargas’s path, and preventing any escape. Magical energy flooded the streets as these blades of all shapes and sizes whirled threateningly.

Vargas shrieked in fright as these blades appeared before him.

Vasili squeezed down harder on the guard’s arm, savoring his fright, before taking his free hand and punching the man in the face, rendering him unconscious.

Vasili felt the surge of magical energy, and looked to its source... Aric. He quickly strode over, looking at the barrier of blades.

“What on earth is that?” he questioned.

“A powerful magical item,“ Aric pat the ring’s surface, “Part of a set that I wish to get back.“

Vasili raised a brow, “I see... no wonder.” He looked to Vargas and Ruki approaching the cowering Burgomaster.

Ruki showed no sympathy nor remorse, instead regarding the Burgomaster coldly. She pointed to the whirring wall of blades and gloated, “Your path is cut off, Vargas...” she took a moment to savor her pun before lowering her hand, using her natural thaumaturgy to make herself more intimidating, “The only way is through me!”

Vargas fell to his knees with a heavy clunk! “Alright! I surrender!” He cowered before Ruki and Vasili, “What do you want? You killed my men, ruined my festival plans... what do you want from me?!”

Ruki felt a fury boiling in her stomach, “Pathetic,” she spat, “Stand up and fill that over-sized armor like a man!” 

She grabbed a hold of his shoulders and hoisted the Burgomaster to face her,  “Those who do not respect Lord Strahd, and do not have his respect in turn are not worthy of the title of Burgomaster!” 

"Ruki..." Vasili stepped forth and put a hand on her shoulder. His voice quiet, but firm,"You did well. But you forget. We aren't here just to deal with him."

Ruki contemplated shoving this man, for which she had two lifetimes full of contempt, into the bladed barrier... but she let go. Vasili was right.

Strahd was right.

Vasili leveled his eyes at the burgomaster. His voice low and demanding... "The girls. Where are they?"

Vargas looked up to Vasili, perplexed, “Girls? What girls? I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Ruki grit her teeth, and stepped forth, clenching her fists. Vasili held out a hand blocking her from assaulting the man. 

“He speaks the truth, Ruki. He doesn’t know about Arabelle... or Ireena,“ Vasili looked to Ruki.

Ruki calmed herself and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she glared at Vargas and used her psychic senses to affirm the statement...

Much to her disappointment, the Burgomaster did tell the truth.

Damn it! The only one who would know is Izek, and he’s beyond giving answers! she raged in her mind... Unless...

She thought of the spells she had seen Strahd use... A Spell to Speak with the Dead.

Ruki reached out to Strahd telepathically, My Lord, perhaps conversing with his dead companion will provide answers... She jerked her head to indicate where Izek lay.

Strahd hesitated. He was in his Vasili disguise... using such an overtly necromantic spell would raise suspicion... But service to a vampire would justify at least some knowledge of necromantic art... 

I suppose so... Strahd conceded. It is our only lead.

“Vasili“ walked over to Izek’s corpse.

Aric and Jeeves regrouped and tended to each other, watching Vasili’s odd behavior. Linda scanned the fallen, and saw where Ismark lay... a pit of dread formed in her stomach as she rushed over to him. She knelt by him and checked his pulse and breathing... 

Alive.

She pulled his hair from his face and tapped his sooty cheek, “Ismark...? Hey, wake up, buddy...”

Ismark groaned coughed, his eyes fluttering open, “I got my ass handed to me... again."

He slowly rose with Linda’s help. Linda chuckled quietly, and pat him on the back, “That you did, but we were here to back you up.”

Linda threw his arm over her shoulder, helping him walk over to where everyone else was gathered.

Ruki folded her arms and looked to Vargas, “I will keep watch over him.”

Vasili knelt next to the corpse of Izek, and turned him over to face upright. He reached into his spell component pouch and brought out a cone of incense, holding it in his hand. He hesitated and looked over to Aric and Jeeves, who were regarding him curiously... and then to Linda and Ismark, who had just made their way over.

“I apologize for what I am about to do, in advance...“ Vasili sighed, and began his grim work.

He muttered something low in a language no one present could understand, waving his free hand over the incense he held. A small ember ignited the incense, filling the air with a musky, sweet scent, gray-blue smoke trailing low over the corpse of Izek... it caressed the face of the Burgomaster’s henchman and seeped into his eyes, nose and mouth... 

The incense burnt out. A moment passed... then two...

Izek’s corpse suddenly shuddered, as if a spider were skittering over hot stone... He gasped and writhed, struggling to fill his lungs with air... a pale blue light radiated from his eyes... incense smoke dripped from his mouth.

Everyone was too shocked for speech.  Everyone except Ruki, and Vasili, who regarded the corpse with no emotion.

Vasili studied Izek for a few moments. “Where is Ireena?” he asked, “The girl with the copper hair, who came into town this very day?”

The corpse laughed, its speech filled with whispery echoes, “She is safe... In fine company...”

Vasili processed the information, before moving on,  "Where is Arabelle? The Vistani girl who went missing... Who was going to be used in the festival?"

“With the wolf hunters... in the town, still... at least until tomorrow.”

Vasili nodded, and rose to address the party, "I'm done asking my questions. Anyone else who wants to may ask three more. I think we should search the Burgomaster's mansion. Tie him up, and take him with us."

Vasili began to walk southward.

Linda blinked and felt the hair on the back of her neck settle... Three more questions? She looked at the corpse...

“Fuck that...“ she whispered.

Aric, Jeeves, and Ismark nodded in silent agreement.

Ruki tied Vargas securely, and whispered a vow in her native Vistani tongue, Patterna:

“If anything happens to my sister, I will end your miserable life...”

[dndeviants]

The Druid Problem

The mists surrounded the nightmares as the party rode through the Border Ethereal. The world of Barovia appeared as only ghostly echoes of itself... the trees were frosty pale, the land was a drowned blue... the night sky was black and starless... 

At Ruki’s command, the nightmares returned to Barovia proper and landed at the outskirts of a great vineyard. 

A light drizzle began to fall. Unpainted fences blindly followed a northward trail, which skirted the edge of the sprawling vineyard. In the middle of it all was a stately building, fog swirling around its eastern side. Scattered about were rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes.

At the edge of the property, there was a man wearing a dark cloak and cowl, hunched over at the treeline. 

Linda felt unease. She looked to the fog beyond and swore that she saw ghostly images there. She collected herself and dismounted the nightmare. Everyone followed her lead and approached the cloaked man.

They walked through the mud toward the man. Strahd shifted his tiny bat form and scurried into Ruki’s pack to hide himself. 

The man was not alone. Others appeared to be hiding in the woods near him. Three men, a woman... four children...

What has happened here? thought Aric.

The cloaked man became aware of their approach and drew back his cowl to look upon them. His face was weathered with age and tiredness, and his hair was gray and wiry. His beard was trimmed close to his face. 

He spoke in a gruff voice, "Sorry kids. Winery's closed. Semi-permanently."

Linda blinked in confusion, “I’m not a child.”

The old man squinted at her and huffed, "Heh? Yer not? Well it don't matter. If yer lookin' for free samples or for any deliveries- gotta break it to ya- We're closed. Unless you can help us with our lil'... ahem-” he coughed, “... druid problem."

"Druid problem?" Linda echoed questioningly.

Jeeves and Aric exchanged glances. Ruki raised a brow.

The old man nodded, "Yes'm. Druids. Damn hillbillies came in and made a wreck of the place!”

He gestured angrily, “Now, I can't pick my grapes, can't run my mill, can't make my bottles, can't make my labels... and can't tend my wines. Bastards don't seem to be leavin' any time soon either." 

He huffed, "We've just been campin' in the meanwhile. I ain't gon' to Vallaki. And I ain't gon' to Krezk."

Linda looked to the rest of her teammates and looked back to the curmudgeon, "I guess we can help with that. Urwin sent us to see what was happening since he hadn't heard from you."

The man stamped his cane into the ground, "Urwin?! Urwin?! My good for nothin', lazy, shirkin' son Urwin? Who got his father into this mess to begin with? HAH! That's a laugh right there!"

He cackled and stamped his cane in the ground, twisting it. One of the children began to cry.

The old man steadied himself and faced them, sternly, "Alright. You help us with the damn hillbillies. And I'll let ya know... to let Urwin know... how his family he abandoned is."

Linda looked to Aric, unsure of how to handle the old man.

Aric simply bowed his head in a polite manner, "That sounds reasonable, any idea how many druids there are?"

"Four," he replied, but held up a pointer finger, "But just 'cause there ain't a lot, don't mean nothin'. Those druids are crafty. Got their nature magics." 

The man wiggled his fingers to accentuate the fact.

Linda turned to the vineyard, shaking her head, "Let's get to it then."

Linda stepped forth cautiously, trudging down the muddy path toward the stately building. Her party followed behind her in the same manner.

Rain began to pour more heavily, beating down on the ground and splashing mud on their boots... but the mist did not dissipate. It was ever present, no matter what, it seemed.

They came closer to the building... It was old, and made of stone, with several piles of vines laying about the house...

There was a noise in the fog. Aric turned to face it, ready for attack, but was stunned to see a Calishite man of middle age, well-groomed, wearing the red royal trappings, the marks of a general...

Father? 

There was no doubting that it was Prince Zasheir. He stared at Aric, disapprovingly, speaking in a harsh, but detached voice, "You had so much potential... you cannot recover from this disgrace. As you know, my favor, once lost... is lost forever..."

Aric blinked. When he opened his eyes, the image was gone. A hallucination? Or an illusion? He looked to Jeeves, but Jeeves didn’t seem to react.

Linda heard the noise as well, and drew her revolver to prep. She leveled it at the fog, but when the mists parted, she nearly dropped her weapon... That rugged man, in full leather battle array... that crossbow, that hat... No mistake...

It was John, smirking at her the way he used to. He spoke tiredly, "What's taken you so long partner? I've been dyin' to finally rest..."

"I...” Linda began, but stopped. Mists took the image away. She shook her head. The mists were messing with her. 

Ruki paused and turned to look in the fog as everyone else had done. She narrowed her eyes at the image it showed her: A Vistani woman, roughly her age... her height... her build... wearing her armor...

No, it was her. Another version, it seemed. She gripped her staff as the image spoke with Ruki’s own voice:

"I wonder how life could have been... if mother hadn't died... and if we hadn't been cursed by devil magic so..."

There is no way to know that. Do not dwell on this now... She told herself as the image faded.

The vines twisted and crackled around them. Slithering together to form small, humanoid shapes. Hissing and crackling sounds emanated from the figures, and their needle-y appendages lashed out toward them.

Ruki gripped her staff and stepped forward, in front of Jeeves. Channeling her psychic energy, she blasted them.

Weak foes... All in front of her collapsed into vines. But there were more coming... An entire horde.

Strahd crawled out of Ruki’s pack, alerted to the danger. He blinked as he saw the vine-y constructs and flew into the air... 

He circled about the manor and observed. There were groups of the things coming from inside and from around the back of the house. He reached out to Ruki: 

“Prepare, there are more coming. I’ll call aid...“

Strahd extended his senses deep into the land around him, and smiled inwardly. Yes, that should do it...

Come to me, little ones...

Ruki acknowledged Strahd and warned her companions, “More incoming!”

Aric snapped out of his uncertainty, and gripped on the Sunsword. The blade of light sprung forth, illuminating the slithering vine creatures. Aric rushed forward and cut down one of the creatures.

Linda readied her gun, trigger happy from the illusion she saw. Bam! Bam! Bam!

Three of the monsters fell. She reloaded as more emerged from the mists... and even more started barreling out of the front door.

Linda stepped back, I’m gonna need more bullets...

Four of the little creatures slithered close to Aric, raising their clawed appendages and swiping. Aric moved defensively, but bit back tears as he felt stinging in his skin from where one of them managed to pierce his leg.

Linda backed up from the creatures swarming her, but they leaped on to her and batted at her arms and legs, tearing into her skin...

Thwack! Ruki batted away a few with her staff, but one of the vine creatures flanked behind her and swiped at calf, throwing her off guard...

Thumping in the air disturbed the field of battle. The vine creatures paused, and Linda looked up... several dark, small shapes blotted out the moonlight peering through the rain and fell on the creatures-

Hundreds of tiny bats began to swarm and pick at the vine creatures.

Jeeves took advantage of the new distraction and quickly cut down two of the vine creatures as the bats began to rip the vines to shreds. 

Ruki wheeled around and pounded her staff on the nearest construct, smashing it to smithereens. 

Strahd flew up and joined one of the swarms of bats, and allowed himself to be taken by the frenzy. The swarms moved and fell down upon the needle blights, and tore vines from the forms.

A hot rage tore through Aric at the constant attacks in this country. He felt the rage burn within him and channeled the energy of his fire-genasi soul. He outstretched his hands as a spark ignited into a cone of flame that extended from him.

Enough of this!

He watched as the blights stopped their advance to him, and reeled back as his flames turned the vines into charcoal. They held their position, frozen for a brief moment, before the rain caused their small forms to collapse, coal dust scattering in the mud.

Linda fired twice at the little buggers, picking off a few as she maneuvered herself... but they just kept coming. She watched as a few more swarmed out of the winery towards her...

Damn annoying.

She and Aric braced themselves and protected their faces as the little creatures launched at them.

Jeeves readied his crossbow and fired at the blights.

Ruki’s eyes flashed and she balled her hand into a fist- channeling her power to crush the vine blights... She watched in satisfaction when all but one before her shriveled into a pile of vines and leaves. She raised her staff and smashed the last one standing for good measure.

Once more, the bats swarmed, and tore through the remaining blights... Aric swung the Sunsword, burning the little blights, and Linda took aim at the last one rushing them-

BANG!

It fell. More movement from within-

She aimed at the doorway-

And paused. Now, there were more of the little creatures, but accompanied by people wearing animal pelts, and wearing headdresses of various animal skulls. The blights seemed on edge, as did these people...

They must be druids... thought Linda.

“What is the meaning of this?“ cried a woman with a black fur cloak, and a ceremonial headdress of a stag skull.

Linda gestured with her revolver, “Your needle things attacked us."

The druids, four in total, spoke to each other in a language that the party didn’t quite understand. One of the druids fiddled with a staff and tapped it against his hand confusedly. 

The woman who called out to them initially stepped forth, “These bats...” she lowered her voice, “Is Lord Strahd among us?”

The bats all landed around them. Perching in the trees, on the fences, in the house... Their eyes glowed red in the night and a low rumble permeated the air.

“Who wishes to know, and why?“ Strahd’s voice emanated from the tiny creatures... and it seemed like the land itself.

A chill cut through everyone. The druids appeared startled as they looked around.

Once more, the woman spoke, her voice wavering, "Apologies, Lord of Land.We are the druids of Clan Kavan-Terran. The Archdruid wished us to pay back the wereravens here for their trespass, and for their attack on our grove. But since we have the Lord's attention...”

She paused, “The Archdruid would like for you to come to Yester Hill. There is something... you need there."

Linda blinked, What would Strahd need from Yester Hill?

The bats swarmed together and departed the winery, fluttering as a large, black cloud in the night.

Strahd himself appeared before the druids, seemingly out of nowhere. The druids took knee, humbly, with their vine creatures mimicking the gesture.

"Indeed?” Strahd questioned, “You say the Martikovs attacked your grove? Whatever for? And what is this... something... you speak of?"

The woman spoke, "The Martikovs hoarded a gem of life, we discovered it here, and sought to use the power to restore the grove- to find some way to heal the Land...” She let bitterness into her voice, “The Martikovs assaulted our grove as we were trying to restore life to our Guardian. This was payback. As for the something...”

She briefly looked to the vampire, but turned away, “The Archdruid was very... quiet about its nature."

Linda folded her arms, and asked, "What were you doing inside?"

The druids were hesitant speaking, but finally one of the men spoke up:

"They tried to poison our efforts for restoring the lifeblood of our grove... so we poisoned the lifeblood of this building... well, only one of them..."

Strahd pinched the bridge of his nose, patience wearing thin. “You poisoned... the wine?” All traces of amusement vanished from his voice.

The druids shifted uncomfortably.

Strahd folded his hands behind his back, and faced the druids, "Well... that is another thing that has to be handled, then. I can't have my people being poisoned and dropping dead...”

He tilted his head, adding a warning tone to his voice, “The only reason you are still alive is because no one has been injured by it, and I am curious. But that is a rather thin line to be on..."

"Today, I am merciful,” he gestured to the woods, eyes flashing red, “Begone before I change my mind."

They didn’t need to be told twice. The druids shifted into a motley assortment of animals... a stag, a bear, a badger, and a hawk before retreating into the forests, their blights following them.

Strahd took a moment to calm himself before walking over to Jeeves. He spoke to the manservant, "If I recall, you had an affinity for poison..."

Jeeves looked to Aric, uncertainly, before answering, “Maybe so...”

Strahd steepled his fingers, leveling his gaze with Jeeves, “Do you mind figuring out for me... which one of these... is the poisoned one?”

“I’ll have to consult Lord Aric first,“ Jeeves answered, “My service is to him, and him alone.“

Strahd tiredly and dismissively made a gesture before turning to the door of the winery. “Very well. Let’s go inside in the meantime. The rain is wretched...”

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, and shuffled through the vines, mud and ash to retreat indoors.

[dndeviants]

The Ally and the Weapon

Everyone was eager to leave the Abbey after the harrowing fight with the Abbot. None more eager than Strahd, who had nearly died from the encounter.

Death at this point would be rather humiliating, wouldn’t it? He mused to himself. He had no fear of dying... especially when he knew that the powers that be would not let him do so permanently. 

But death was a setback. 

He had to work with these outsiders- and the Barovians- to escape from this place. At one point he had dreamed of taking all of his country out of this damned plane, but the years of torture, the Barovians’ ungrateful existence...

Tatayana’s deaths... over and over...

He no longer cared if he took his country with him or not.

Linda proposed to defeat these Dark Powers that held them imprisoned. He held little faith in that plan. But he humored her, nonetheless.

Strahd led his allies down the winding path to the town of Krezk, and pulled his special pipe from his pocket. He took out the dried dung for the spell component and lit it. His protective spell- Aura of Desecration- was something that he created for himself long ago that would protect him from the effects of consecrated ground. 

It was a simple spell, but he was almost at his limit for magic today...

He traced the glyph in the air, not bothering to conceal the casting of his spell. After all, all in his company knew the truth.

 "The Shrine of the White Sun is a holy place,” Strahd explained to his guests, “I've not been near it in centuries. Not since Sturm had it made to honor our parents."

Aric tilted his head, "Why would she want to meet there?"

 Strahd thought for a moment, "It's isolated. The water is permanently blessed with miracle curing effects, and my power would be reduced in such a place. I think it is a precaution against me, specifically...”

He turned to his allies, “Which is hardly surprising, given her circumstances."

And our history... He thought, tiredly. 

Linda shrugged, "I don't blame her, considering your reputation."

Strahd quirked a brow at the cheeky woman.

Linda quirked her lips in a smug smile, admitting,  "Though that assumption may be misguided... not sure on that yet, though. We will see."

"We will see..." Strahd echoed hollowly. 

They walked further down the path, and came to an overlook. Strahd pointed downward, “That... is the Shrine.”

Everyone peered over, and were all greeted with a shimmering pool, the brightest blue water that any of them had ever seen. The place itself seemed to reflect a small amount of sunlight, but...

Linda looked up. It was dreadfully overcast, dim, and cold. This place seemed warm and sunny... Linda squinted. On the pool itself was a gazebo with a wooden bridge extending out to it. In its center, was a statue of a man.

Aric felt a tingling sensation inside of him. It is almost like an oasis in Calim Desert, he thought. Somewhere safe, and refreshing after a brutal day.

Nostalgia... that is what Ruki felt. She couldn’t quite place her finger on why... She looked to the gazebo. The statue in the center was the old sun god of Barovia, known as Father Sun to many. The Barovians now called that man, “the Morninglord,” the old faith almost completely forgotten...

Something forgotten... that something was calling to her from the Shrine.

"I'm guessing it is also the only happy looking place in this country," Linda looked to the vampire.

Strahd actually laughed, "That may be so. If that is what happiness looks like to you."

Linda shook her head,  "No, but to your people it might."

“I don’t know...“ Mina spoke uncertainly, “It almost looks... too inviting. I don’t trust it.“

Victor squinted, “Is it going to damage Mr. Whiskers? Because if so, I want nothing to do with it. Resurrecting him again would be a great inconvenience.”

Strahd held out his hand to Victor, "I have a protective aura against its effects. If you would like, I could hold on to your companion..."

Victor turned from Strahd, protecting Mr. Whiskers, "Um. No touching. But he can sit very near you."

Mr. Whiskers batted at a butterfly flying by.

Strahd took no offense to the gesture and led them down the rest of the way to the shrine.

A woman sat by the pools. She had umber skin, with thick hair corded into braids around her head. She reached into the water, filling vials from the pool. She heard them approach and stood, her dress revealing that she was heavily pregnant... going to give birth soon. 

Her nostrils flared as she smelled the air. She spoke to the party in a voice soft, and low, "Hail, Count. And guests."

Strahd put a hand over his chest, lowering his head, "Lady Toranescu. A pleasure to speak with you again."

Zuleika smiled sadly, "I wish I could derive as much pleasure from this meeting as you profess to have."

Strahd tilted his head up and gestured to his allies, "Lady Zuleika, these are my guests who are helping me for the time being. You already know of Ruki. But allow me to introduce Lord Aric and his retainer, Jeeves. Linda Tacklemeyer, Mina Harper, and Victor Vallakovich."

The woman raised a brow at Aric and sniffed, "If my senses weren't bombarded, I would think this one a member of my own pack by his scent... how can this be?"

“I was bitten a few days ago,“ Aric spoke truthfully. There was no use hiding it, and this werewolf woman might help him learn.

The woman frowned at Strahd, "He has until the full moon. If he was bitten by one of Kiril's... spawn... there's no telling what may happen."

Strahd nodded, "I know. But it was Kiril specifically that we came to discuss. I can't abide by what his marauders are doing. But we need more information. If you would help us, we would be grateful."

Strahd stepped back and gestured to Linda and Aric, "They have questions for you."

Linda’s heart pounded as she stepped forward,  "What can you tell us about Kiril? His followers kidnapped my apprentice... do you know anything about that?"

Zuleika  was grim, "Unfortunately I do..."

Zuleika put a hand over her pregnant belly, "A little under a year ago, Kiril returned from his banishment. He was banished from the pack because of his radical views on how we were too passive with the humans who were hunting us and killing us...”

She looked to Linda’s kit, and frowned at her. But the werewolf continued her story, “We couldn't afford to draw attention to our kind unnecessarily, so we banished him. It was a kind of death sentence, so we were surprised when Kiril returned. But something was not right..."

 "He came with others. We could sense that he had become something else. He wasn't living, nor dead, nor lycan... he was something foul and unnatural. He challenged my mate, my husband, Emil, for control of the pack. Emil was honor-bound to fight for the pack... and he was slain.”

She shook her head and bit back tears of grief and anger, “I had to defer to Kiril for a time... hiding my pregnancy from him until I could escape."

She fixed her amber eyes on Linda, "He had made a pact with some dark entity, it seemed. It made him the powerful monster he is now. He was able to dominate the minds of our pack-members, and subdue their personalities. He also took to kidnapping children."

Zuleika turned and faced the pool,  "The children, he would infect with his kind of curse. It wasn't like if any of my kind would bite a human... no... it changed these children, and they acted like born lycans... as if the lycan blood already ran through them, even though it never existed before... some of the pack lauded this as a way to further our breed... but then to everyone's horror..."

She had to pause to breathe. She steadied herself,  "He gave all the children weapons and commanded them to fight each other, and hold nothing back. He commanded children to fight to the death. And this was not just the kidnapped humans... these were our own pups as well."

Zuleika turned back to face Linda, stony faced,  "Kiril decreed that only the strong would have a place in our pack. And those who were not strong did not deserve to live."

 "If Kiril has your apprentice,” Zuleika warned, “Then he is either dead, or being turned into a murderer."

Linda sighed and rubbed her temples, fighting down the urge to scream and shout. She finally trembled, and spoke, "I... don't like either of those. I just hope he's not dead. He's like family to me. I wouldn't know how to tell his parents."

Zuleika lowered her gaze on Linda, sympathetically. 

She turned to Strahd, "Kiril has figured out where I am. I didn't get far enough away. If I could change, It would have been no problem getting as far away as Immol or Hoessla,” she paused, “I was actually surprised that you were here, Count."

Strahd mused, "Is that so?"

"You don't get around as much as you used to. And with the Abbot here...” She made a gesture, “Why would you come here? He nearly destroyed you, if I recall."

Strahd waved his hand nonchalantly,  "And he almost did today. What of it? I am still here... and all that remains of him is... well, remains...” he turned to the boys, “I think Jeeves has some pieces."

Jeeves held his hand in his pack, "Ah. I didn't think anyone was looking..."

He looked at everyone’s dubious stares and sighed, lifting out a vial of dust to show them, and emphasizing, "They might be useful."

Zuleika’s mood changed. No longer dreading and sober, she seemed to be more excited, "The Abbot is dead? Then perhaps all is not lost..."

"What do you mean?" asked Linda.

"The Abbot was helping Kiril,” Zuleika explained, “Delivering children to him and to another man, and a foreign wizard. The Abbot and Kiril had made a plan... for Kiril to take over Krezk, and for the Abbot to show the people what their lack of faith in the Morninglord had done... I... believe that the Abbot even poisoned Ilya Krezkov, the Burgomaster's son to aid in that plan. I don't know all the details, because I was still part of the den when they were discussing it, and left before they completed their plans..."

Linda turned to Aric, "If the Abbot poisoned him, didn't he say something about bringing the child back? It had to do with that ring right?"

"Yes,” Aric nodded, “It is a ring of spell storing, using it to revive the child would be easy with the spell already in the ring. I would imagine the Abbot wanted to use their faith to control the people, and reviving a dead child would seem like a miracle."

Linda held her arms and shuddered,  "I'm glad we killed him. That guy was all sorts of messed up."

Zuleika folded her arms and walked down the bank of the pool toward the wooden bridge, "The twisted abominations in that Abbey, the twisted thing Kiril has become... I long for the simpler days. Humans left us be for the most part. The only thing anyone had to worry about was.... well..."

Zuleika uncertainly looked to Strahd.

"Taxes," Strahd responded dryly.

Strahd quirked his lips in amusement at Zuleika’s annoyance.

“No. You, my lord...“ she corrected him.

Linda paused and held her hand to her chin in thought,  "I'm starting to think there is much worse than Strahd here. What made Kiril like he is, for example...”

She smiled and pointed her thumb to Strahd,  “Whatever that thing is has to be a lot less reasonable than this pushover."

Pushover? He looked to Linda. Normally, he would be insulted by such a claim, but seeing the playfulness in Linda’s eyes as she said it made him feel...

Something. 

“Perhaps I am growing soft in my old age...“ he spoke gently.

The werewolf looked disbelievingly at the exchange, not understanding how they could be so cordial with each other. She shifted in her stance, "Well, Kiril and the others mentioned a place called the Amber Temple... and the Dark Powers."

Aric looked to the vampire for insight, “Amber Temple?”

Strahd blinked in genuine confusion, "I have no idea what or where that may be. An... Amber Temple? That seems odd... we don't have much amber here. Can you tell us anything more?"

Zuleika made a vague gesture, "I know that it is in the mountains... I think it is... inside Mount Ghakis... that is what I heard, but I don't know if it is right or not."

"Mount Ghakis?” Strahd mumbled, “Well that would explain why I don't know of its existence... but... it doesn't explain how they would either.”

He turned back to Zuleika, “You and I both know that the cold of that mountain can freeze a brown bear in minutes... mortal men are no match for it, and I would have to break my own limbs continuously to explore the area..."

Aric was even more confused, "Why would you need to break your limbs to explore the mountain?"

"The cold,” answered Strahd, “My body, although it is stronger, and heals faster than a mortal body, cannot defy certain laws of physics. My magical preservation cannot keep up with the sheer, freezing cold. I've tried it once, and gave up after being... forced into a mist to retreat to one of my aeries."

Linda shivered almost instinctively,  "That's really cold and I don't think anyone has the protection for that. I certainly only have the clothes on my back right now."

Zuleika folded her arms, "That is why it is so shocking to me. To everyone. No one survives Mount Ghakis..."

Zuleika took a moment, lost in thought. The werewolf walked down to the bank of pool,  "I came here to protect myself and my unborn child, not from you, Strahd. But from Kiril."

She turned to everyone to explain, "He has the same weaknesses that you do, but none of the magical know how to get around them."

Strahd was relieved... it would have been a pity to lose Zuleika as... an acquaintance, "Ah, I was worried I had lost your trust and favor, seeing as you chose this of all places to meet."

Zuleika huffed in amusement, "It may come as a surprise, my lord... you may be the Land, but not everything is about you."

Strahd shrugged, "Most of it is."

"I can't argue with that,” Zuleika laughed softly. She picked up her skirts and walked away from the shrine.

Ruki sighed and looked up to her father, Arrogant, she thought.

Linda glanced over to the shrine and walked up to an ancient stone plaque. She read the engraving:

SHRINE OF THE WHITE SUN

Blessed by the priests of Father Sun, in honor of King Barov and Queen Ravenia von Zarovich. 

Though you are gone, your lights will always be a beacon for those without hope. May the sun ever shine on your children, Strahd, Sturm, and Sergei von Zarovich.

For his parents...? she thought. She looked down the way to the statue in the center of the gazebo. She walked toward it. It was that of a bare-chested man, bearing a sad face, with arms outstretched as if asking for an embrace.

Something is off...

She circled around the statue and saw small, almost imperceptible pressure plates. There were three of them: two under the armpits, and one on the back... 

She climbed up on the pedestal with the statue and pressed one under the arm. Click. Nothing...

Then the significance of the placement hit her. This was something activated by pushing all three at once... returning the statue’s embrace.

Clever, she hummed to herself. She embraced the statue, and felt something shudder beneath her, as gears turned and stone slid against stone.

One of the tile slabs had slid over, revealing a set of stone stairs that led into a chamber below the pools.

Strahd could not contain his surprise. He rushed across the bridge to Linda, and exclaimed, “What is this?!”

Linda hopped off the pedestal and smirked at the vampire, "Looks like stairs."

Strahd blinked, stunned, "It would appear so."

Linda grew excited, "Secret stairs at that. Let's go!" She gestured Strahd to follow her.

Strahd hesitated, and reluctantly followed her lead, lightly stepping and cautious of traps. Ruki, Aric, and Jeeves curiously made their way over and stepped into the darkness.

It wasn’t too impressive. Massive amounts of spiderwebs hung from the ceiling and covered chests and crates... the water lapped around outside the chamber... and oddly, there was a skeleton, splayed out on the floor.

Strahd ignored the skeleton and walked around, looking at crates, "All that is missing is the armory...” He wondered aloud, “Why would Sturm commission something like this and not tell me?"

Linda felt drawn to the skeleton and walked over... Just behind her, Aric curiously examined a chest, reaching out to it...

“What if it is a mimic?“ Jeeves cautioned.

Aric jumped back instinctively, knocking into Linda. Linda slammed into the ground on top of the skeleton, scattering bones across the floor.

Linda yelped in shock.

"Are you alright, my lord? Linda?" Jeeves rushed over to help.

Linda pulled herself out from under Aric and brushed dust off her leather jacket,  "It's alright. I just scattered whoever's skeleton that was,” She offered her hand to Aric.

Aric took her hand, “I am fine, Jeeves. I apologize Linda...”

Linda helped him stand, and made a gesture to dismiss his worry. She looked back at the scattered bones and sighed. It would be hard to pin down the cause of death now... Could be anywhere between bleeding and blunt force trauma.

She looked at loose fibers on the ground. Whoever this was was wearing cloth. That had disintegrated long ago, leaving only fibers and bone buttons... but why were they down here to begin with?

Aric examined the chest again. Not a mimic... He was pretty certain. Linda peered over his shoulder as he lifted the top of the chest.

More cloth fibers... mostly silk and other fabric, it seemed. Most of these things had been destroyed by time and insects...

Aric turned to the now broken skeleton, and saw Ruki also examining it. Something was out of place... an ornate hilt with no blade...

Even though Aric had no skill in magic, he could tell that this hilt was magical.

Linda peered into another chest... there were several pieces of fine jewelry... gold, silver, jewels... It would be worth her time taking this to an appraiser. She pocketed what she could.

It seems that the hilt may have been part of a greater weapon once... Aric thought. It still had potential to be a great weapon. He recalled the prophecy:

 "Look for the warrior's tribute... an abandoned shrine touched by the sun has the artifact you seek."

Ruki picked it up without a word and put it on her belt, meandering over to another chest, much to Aric’s chagrin.

Ruki examined the chest with Linda... it seemed to be scroll fragments detailing certain histories... but the ink was faded and hard to read.

Linda mused, "Scrolls huh?"

Ruki took the scrolls, “About some sort of history it seems.”

"It seems that this is some kind of time capsule...” Strahd determined, and added, “Not a very good one. There was some magic supposed to preserve these things, but it has long since worn off. I can't make sense of any of this... These artifacts.... are definitely before my time."

Strahd examined a coin he found. 

As Ruki examined scrolls she found, Aric snuck up on her, slowly reaching for the hilt on her belt...

Just... a little... closer....

He slipped, and nearly gave himself away. 

Jeeves reached out and grabbed him, preventing Aric from revealing himself.

Aric sighed in relief, and resolved to get the hilt later, “Thank you,” he breathed.

Strahd paled and looked as if he were going to be sick. He turned to everyone with him, "I am... at my limit. I can't cast this spell again until I recover, and it is starting to wear off... I'm sorry, I have to retreat from this."

Strahd hastily exited, rushing up the stone stairs.

Linda noted his reaction and  turned to everyone else, "I'll go with him."

She followed him up the stairs and saw that he had made his way to the edge of the property that held the shrine and pools. She huffed to catch up to him. 

Strahd leaned against a tree, wrapped up in his cloak, his face furrowed with pain and stress.

 "Did it wear off while we were down there?" Concern crept into her voice.

He nodded, "I was too entrapped with that place. I let my spell run out. I can't...” He looked to her uncertainly, “...afford to be near holy places or things for the rest of this day."

Linda nodded and showed off the jewelry she found, "I think I am done for the day too. I would like to go back to the town and buy and sell a few things."

He nodded, not caring about the jewelry she took,  "I will have to recover my stores of Arcane Magic. And plan for how we will tackle this werewolf problem tonight. Fare you well... " 

He paused, looking at the woman that had shown him such care, concern, camaraderie... something stirred in his chest... it had been happening a lot, recently...

 "Thank you for your help," He spoke quietly, his usually hard gaze softening.

Linda noticed the look he gave her... Longing? Fondness?

She quickly looked down and pulled her hair behind her ear, "Don't mention it. I'll make sure the others are in the right mindset for tonight as well."

She looked back up at him. His expression did not change. His lips parted as he whispered gently, “Thank you...”

He wrapped himself up tighter in his cloak, seeking some kind of comfort. He looked down, away from her, cursing himself... He had already thanked her, doing so twice was foolish! 

He wanted to speak to her, keep her in his company a little longer... he battled within himself, and conceded. He looked to her, nearly pleading, “Be safe.”

Those words were a genuine wish- no, a command- to her... and released her from his presence.

Linda raised her eyebrows, surprised at his apparent change in manner to her. She couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips in a small smile, “You be safe as well, and...” she nodded to Strahd, holding his eyes with hers for a brief moment...

Her heart seemed to jump to her throat, “You’re welcome...” she choked out. 

She quickly turned away to try and hide her flush of embarrassment. Stupid, stupid, stupid! She thought. She breathed and steadied herself. She couldn’t... just leave him here with that... 

She turned back to him, and saw that his expression had changed to that of curiosity... It was a little easier to look at him now... she nodded to Strahd in acknowledgement, “I’ll see you later, then... And um... Take care.”

“I try,“ he replied.

She laughed quietly and turned away, heading out toward the town. She couldn’t believe that she was still tripping over herself around him... she would have expected her fascination with the man to end when she learned the truth about him... but that simply wasn’t so.

Strahd watched as Linda walked away, and unconsciously placed his hand over his heart. He was certain that he had felt it move... beat... once more... 

Since his turning, it hardly ever did that. The only occasions his heart beat were in the heat of battle, in dread fear, or when he saw Tatay...

He cut off that comparison before  it could complete itself. Whatever he felt toward Linda was a mere, fleeting fancy. She was attractive, yes, with features similar to his own beloved, true... But she was not Tatayana...

Perhaps I could make her my consort... The thought came to him... but without much enthusiasm. He doubted Linda would agree to such an arrangement, no matter how attractive he was to her... and he felt that he would not gain enjoyment from that either...

No, he wanted something more from her... but what, he wasn’t certain...

Thud. There it was. Under the tips of his fingers, something he hadn’t felt in so long stirred...

Be still, my beating heart... he commanded himself, to no avail. 

He couldn’t feel this way for her- he mustn’t... or else everything he had done...

Would have been for...

Nothing.

[dndeviants]

Van Richten’s tower

Strahd looked to the Vistani woman. The outcast... It was odd for him, not many of her people, not even the outcasts would threaten him so brazenly. He turned to her, keeping his calm, despite her threat and despite her accusation. 

She had seen combat. Her leg prosthesis was designed so that she could keep seeing combat... Interesting. 

He held his hand on his sword but didn’t unsheathe it. The accusation of taking someone hostage was ironic to him- because he himself felt prisoner in this tower that drained his magic. 

He asked truthfully, "Who the hell is Richard?"

At this point, Rictavio stepped forth, "Hey, Ez! Long time, no see! It's alright. We are traveling together. I'm not anyone's hostage."

So... Richard was the doppelganger’s actual name. The Vistana, Ezmerelda seemed a bit more calm. But her unsheathed rapier was indicative of her distrust.

Ruki stepped forth, speaking to her fellow Vistana in Patterna, “You are with this monster?” She indicated Richard.

Ezmerelda looked to Ruki and blinked at her. She glanced to Strahd and back to her, her eyes narrowing,  as she returned her Patterna, "I could ask the same of you, cousin."

Ruki glared at the outcast.

Ezmerelda turned to everyone else in confusion, "Traveling? Why? And why with... him?” She gestured to Strahd with her rapier, “Richard... have you hit your head?"

Rictavio- or rather, Richard- waved her off, shifting from the form of a half-elf to that of a human male, with brown hair, brown eyes... very young and very plain. "Long story, Ez,” his voice shifted to a light tenor, “I need to find Uncle. Have any idea where he is?"

Ezmerelda blinked and looked at Richard disbelievingly.

A voice called down from above... It was that of an older gentleman, but his accent differed from both the Vistani and the Barovians. “Ezme?” The voice echoed, “Do I need to come down there? What was that thunder all about?”

Both Strahd and Richard blinked in recognition of the voice. As Strahd’s face betrayed dread and anger... Richard practically vibrated with excitement.

Strahd forced himself to calm, but his hand gripped the pommel of his sword. He forced a thin smile on his face, "Well, I am sorry for the intrusion. But I will have to excuse myself..."

Strahd turned and slowly walked to the door-

Richard cupped his hands around his mouth, calling out, "UNCLE RICHTEN! I FOUND YOU!"

Linda connected the dots, turning to Richard, “Wait... Is your Uncle... The Van Richten?”

Ezme rolled her eyes at Linda.

Ruki's eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation.

Van Richten’s voice rang out, "RICHARD?! Richard my boy! We have much to discuss! Let me come down at once!"

Strahd took one step back, calculating frantically. He needed an escape. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have reacted in this way, but the door had a magical trigger that he had long forgotten, and an antimagic field was draining his magic- removing one tool from his arsenal. And Richten was old in a profession where men die young. A force to be reckoned with. 

When did Khazan put a spell drain...? He muttered and swore under his breath, trying desperately to cast a spell... and failing. "Damn that Khazan!” He fumed, “Putting a spell drain in his damn tower..."

Ezmerelda glared at Strahd, "What do you think you are doing?"

Strahd kept up his forced smile, baring his fangs, "Trying to not interrupt this...” he almost snarled, “beautiful... touching family reunion.” He glared at the Vistana, “Let me leave, at once."

The golems in the center of the room began to move, rattling chains, and lowering a platform from above. Ruki moved closer to Strahd, looking up to the platform as it descended.

Ruki felt a burning in her heart as she looked at the old man... Her tribe was slaughtered because of Richten’s actions... Breaking a protection circle, allowing ghouls to slaughter the men, women, and children...

Linda saw the old man. Unassuming, balding... but he had compiled the most useful psychological information on monsters, physiological traits... behaviors... everything that could help keep a hunter alive in the field. 

Aric looked up to the frumpy old man... He didn’t understand why everyone was on edge. The man didn’t even look like he knew what a hair brush was...

Before Van Richten could lay eyes on him, Strahd backed fully into the shadows, transforming into a tiny bat, and fluttering into the corner, looking for a crevice to crawl into and escape. He may not have had access to his spells here, but his shapeshifting into animals was an innate ability... He didn’t want to risk misting...

Linda looked to Richard, "Rictavio... you didn't tell me your uncle was the Doctor Rudolph van Richten."

Richard looked to Linda, confused, "And how many Richtens do you know, Linda?"

Linda blinked and folded her arms, “Point taken.”

It’s no use... Strahd could not find any crevices to squeeze through, so he landed on Ruki’s shoulder, waiting for the inevitable, but trying not to start trouble when he had a severe disadvantage. 

Ruki felt Strahd land on her shoulder, and turned to face him away from their mutual enemy. Ruki had noticed that Strahd had no access to magic here. That wouldn’t effect her. It was a magic drain, not a psionic drain...

The ragged old man arrived on their level, looking as if he had not slept for some time. Very much the eccentric scholar. He grinned at Richard as he adjusted his spectacles,  "Richard! How are you? I thought you were still in Mordent! Your mother and aunt must be worried sick. And who are these people? I am sorry if you had trouble with the door. It is tricky the first time, but I hope that it wasn't too shocking an experience."

Richard gestured over to Linda, “Oh, this is Linda... and Ruki... and I have no idea where Aric went, but I think he's in the room somewhere. Oh, and his friend Jeeves. And...”

Richard looked around in confusion, “Where did... you-know-who go?"

Aric sighed and stood up, " I suppose it would be rude to remain hidden."

Linda sensed the tension from Ruki and Strahd and stepped in front of them, protectively.

Van Richten made a small gesture of greeting, then looked at everyone else’s reaction. Ezmerelda whispered something to him...

He muttered something under his breath, and a small hint of golden light flickered...

Strahd’s bat ears twitched... A Spell for Detecting Evil and Good... How had Van Richten overcome the spell drain? He thought back to the rebellion, and realized, He’s had the time to figure it out... a little under a year... damn! Forget disadvantageous... if things did not go well, it could very well be lethal for him.

Van Richten tilted his head with a friendly smile, "Ah, hello. Good to meet all of you... Frau Linda, Frau Ruki, Herr Aric, Herr Jeeves...” He looked past Linda, his expression stern, “Hello, Strahd... Wherever you may be."

The doctor leaned on his cane, tapping his finger on the hilt.

Strahd fluttered off of Ruki’s shoulder, and returned to his human shape. He stood next to Ruki, and leveled his gaze with the doctor. It would do no good to hide. He steepled his fingers, and spoke in a low voice, trying not to betray his dread...

"Good afternoon, Doctor," Strahd glared at Van Richten.

"Ah, there you are...” the doctor also seemed a little tense at Strahd’s arrival, but was congenial in his speech, “Honestly I am surprised you found me. Scrying spells can't penetrate the spell drain. And it takes a while for a caster to overcome the spell drain effect that this tower has. It's been a useful hiding place...” he chuckled, “My own little Castle Ravenloft."

Linda stood protectively in front of Strahd. She thought of everything she knew about Van Richten from “Vasili...” It was clear that they had a history-

Then it clicked. Van Richten was the one who attacked Strahd and destroyed his journal... 

This was bad... she was hoping to get both of their cooperation. Despite Van Richten’s candid tone, she could see that he was very much on edge, leaning in a way to guard himself and attack at any provocation... 

She looked to Strahd, and saw that his claws had extended themselves...

I need to stop this now! She looked to Richard and whispered, worriedly, “What do we do? This is bad, but I made the call. Will he listen to that? Technically he made the code. Will he take my word?"

Richard stepped forth,  "Ah, um... Uncle? A moment please?”

The doctor reluctantly broke his gaze from Strahd to his nephew. 

Richard continued,  “Linda actually has something to say, and I have news for you. So... let's be civilized? He's not gonna do anything here, as long as you don't do anything...” he explained, “I can read everyone's thoughts in here, and I can assure you no one is looking for a fight."

Richard blinked, adding, "Also, Uncle, did you wake up like...an hour ago? You may need to take a moment to freshen up or something."

Van Richten looked at Richard and eased his grip on his  cane, "Alright.”

The doctor turned to the party, “Everyone, let's go upstairs. Make yourselves at home. We all have things to discuss. Let me go up first, and I will freshen up a bit. Ezmerelda dear, will you work the lift for everyone?"

Van Richten turned from the group and walked on to the platform, tapping his cane to let Ezmerelda know that he was ready. Ezmerelda spoke a command word to the golems, and they lifted the old doctor up, and out of sight.

Everyone sat in silence, waiting for the platform to come back down. Rictavio, Aric, and Jeeves were the first group to step on the platform and go up to the top, with Ruki, Linda, and Strahd lingering back to go up second. Ezmerelda waited for everyone to go to the top before riding up behind, alone.

This time, Van Richten’s clothing was more socially acceptable. He looked like a field scholar with his long leather overcoat, pack of scrolls and stationary, his balding, gray hair neatly combed back, and his face freshly shaven. He sat down at a desk, and leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on a hand.

Linda peered around the room, fascinated. The doctor had set up this tower as a place of scholarly study. Old boards were decorated with several notes and sketches linked by pins and colored thread. She walked over to them... examining anatomical sketches of werewolves- but the ones with vampire-like fangs and gnarled limbs and faces-

The ones from Daggerford... He’s been studying them too... She looked over his other notes and sketches... and saw an entire section dedicated to her vampire ally, Strahd von Zarovich. 

She couldn’t help but to examine them, curious about what else set him apart from others of his kind... she looked over his various forms and saw the typical mist, bat, wolf, his human guise, his true undead form... and an extra form that reminded her of a werebat... 

Interesting...

Strahd walked slowly through the room and saw what the good doctor had dedicated himself to within the last year... Bold of the man to flaunt what he knows about me... he thought, sourly. 

But something about his behavior is... off, he noted. Van Richten, the humble herbalist from Mordent had been his guest too, at one point. And the man had been amiable to him- at least to his face- for a time... but of course that changed when he discovered his journals in his secret room. 

They fought. Nearly killed each other. Destroyed the one thing that Strahd had that kept him sane and lucid... That kept his memory intact, and out of the tampering influence of the Mists... 

And then the doctor disappeared. Left from Barovia. Madame Eva warned that he would return. And so, Strahd waited. Ten years later, he returned... and swayed a new guest of his- the mage, Mordenkainen to stir up rebellion against him...

Anger once more rose in his chest. Strahd was the Land... but somehow this... little scholar had managed to evade him once more... Van Richten aimed to kill him, so-

Why hasn’t he struck, yet? He wondered, He must know that even I cannot access my magic here, that I am trapped... Or perhaps he doesn’t... He walked over to a window on the far side of the room. Here, I cannot take any chances... the time he spends not attacking me is time I can spend figuring out Khazan’s drain. Don’t waste anymore time, Strahd. He folded his arms and concentrated, silently.

Ruki sensed her adoptive father’s frustration, and stood in front of him.

Van Richten looked at the motley assembly, "I am... surprised to see you all here. Much less in each other's company...” He made a welcoming gesture, “Let's not be so tense at the moment. We can be candid, can't we, Lord Strahd?"

Strahd nodded silently. He was still focused on figuring out the magic drain.

Ruki folded her arms, “I almost got electrocuted from your defenses.”

Van Richten nodded sympathetically, "To be fair, I did get electrocuted when trying to figure this place out, so it doesn't surprise me. This place is a little tricky to figure out. But if you have the time, you can find workarounds."

Ezmerelda sighed and tapped on her prosthesis, "I had to get a new leg because the electricity burned my wooden one clean off."

Richard seemed surprised, "Oh geez!" he paused, "I almost died from it."

Van Richten looked across the room, "Well... How did you find me? You seemed surprised."

Strahd debated dignifying the answer with  a response. He shook his head, "Sheer... dumb... luck. And I'm leaning toward calling it bad luck."

Van Richten laughed a bit, "Good to see you are still the optimist."

 Linda blinked and looked at the two men. Strahd was still on edge, and the famous hunter was too calm. She stepped forward and addressed Van Richten, "Since I'm new to this place, could I be filled in on things? Like... what is your goal here Van Richten, and who this other person is? I have met Richard, obviously and only know what he has told me."

Ricthen looked over to Ezmerelda, "Ah, you must mean my assistant, Ezmerelda D'avenir. She has been with me, helping me travel and research since she was a little girl."

Ezmerelda nodded fondly, "I had heard of Van Richten and ran away from my parents when I was very young. I felt that it was wrong for our people to serve monsters, and wanted to make a difference as only a Vistana can.”

She made a gesture of disgust, “I don't like that our people overwhelmingly support a man- a monster- who is keeping our people in servitude. I tracked him down and asked for him to teach me his ways, and have helped with hunting and research ever since."

Ruki felt something... off... What Ezmerelda said was fundamentally wrong in many ways... Vistani children, firstly, were raised more communally than solely by parents... And the Vistani did not “serve” Strahd in the way Ezmerelda said. The Vistani have been, and always will be, a free people...

Strahd was seen more as a doting patron, business partner, and protector, rather than a master. Ruki herself may have referred to him as her lord, and thought of him as her father, but it was out of respect for him that she did so... and the fact that Barovians expected that kind of behavior around a lord. But she wanted to help him, truly.

Another thing that caught her attention was that after what Van Richten allowed to happen to the Radanovich tribe, and much of the Corvara clan, no Vistana- not even an outcast- would associate with him. Blood crimes were a taboo, and allowing the already persecuted Vistani to be slaughtered... was as bad as being a perpetrator of genocide to her. 

She must have been brainwashed somehow, Ruki realized. She looked over to Ezmerelda and reached out to her: 

Lord Strahd is not the one enslaving you...

Ezmerelda’s eyes flickered at the intrusion. She glanced to Ruki, speaking Patterna,  "I think I would like to speak to you later, Cousin. It has been some time since my people were willing to talk to me."

Strahd was genuinely surprised at Ezme’s story. He didn’t think that the Vistani would have any such reasons against him. They- unlike him and the Barovians- were allowed to leave any time they wished. He had kept his word to Eva, and had not drank of their blood, provided them with protection from outsiders and his own people at times... and in return they brought him knowledge of the outside world, things from other realms... 

Things to make this prison bearable.

He could only grunt in confusion, "Odd. I haven't heard that one before."

Ruki swore to herself, “Worry not, I will free you from him.”

Richten drew his attention back to the party, "You are foreigners, save for Strahd, and his fiendish Vistana-” he indicated the two of them, then looked back to Linda, “Obviously, you knew what he was, who he was... Why are you allying yourself with him?”

He raised his chin from his hand and tilted his head up at Linda, “You want to know my goals here? I can tell you that I seek to keep him where he belongs... Trapped here. Away from the rest of humanity and the mortal races."

So that is why he hadn’t struck at me, Strahd thought. He found himself chuckling, "It appears we have a conflict of interest. As usual."

Linda glanced over to Strahd. His mood and manner were too volatile... she had something she wanted to reveal to Van Richten, get some support on her mission here... But Strahd’s reaction could be... 

Disastrous.

"Let's just say things are complicated and that I cannot talk freely at the moment. I have some things that I wanted to discuss, but...” Linda turned fully to Strahd, “I would have to ask Strahd if he would step out of the room."

Strahd narrowed his eyes at Linda. What was her game? Separating him from the rest of the group, leaving all of the hunters alone together... He wasn’t certain that Ruki would be able to handle herself alone should they turn on him. He leaned forward.

"I will leave, but not alone..." he looked over and made eye contact with everyone else, "I'm not going anywhere without some kind of insurance."

Linda sighed, looking over to the boys, "Jeeves, would you mind going with Strahd?"

Jeeves looked to Aric. Aric nodded in acknowledgement. 

Jeeves bowed, "If it pleases you,"  he whispered to Aric in his native tongue, "If he speaks of anything, I'll fill you in."

Jeeves and Strahd walked over to the platform, clearly unhappy about the situation. Only when the platform returned empty, did Linda speak again.

"Alright. I have been keeping a huge secret and not just from Strahd," she looked to Ruki,  "I don't care if you tell him, I just don't need his reaction to what I am about to say to get in the way. You will understand."

Ruki raised a brow as Linda pulled out a silver pendant of the Morninglord. It had ornate filigree around it, marking it as no ordinary holy symbol.

Linda presented it to Van Richten, "This is a pendant signifying my authority in the monster hunting world. I am the leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn."

Linda set her crossbow on the table. Her voice was hard, "This was the previous leader's weapon. He died at the hands of those creatures you have illustrations of. The not-so-normal werewolves....”

She looked to Van Richten with determination, “I came here to investigate and track them down.”

She paused, “I know that you are here to kill or imprison Strahd and... I get it,” She sighed, “He isn't a saint, but I know there is a bigger picture here.”

“Like it or not, I am going to make the call. And that is to take no action against Strahd,” She clenched her hands tight, “Right now he is helping me achieve my mission here, and I want to keep it that way.”

“Only after I figure out what is going on here with those werewolves and whatever these Dark Powers are.... I am not changing that call."

Richard and Ezme looked to Linda in shock. Van Richten looked tired and resigned. He lifted his hand to rub his temples.

Aric glanced at the hand of the man- Velsharoon’s Bindings... another of the Qysari Rings... He recalled a bit of the prophecy:

"A man of learning, a man of a haunted past... he hides in his tower, plotting, planning to use what you seek in order to gain control over the dark influences in his life... Persuade him to part with his unhealthy obsession, and the treasure will be yours."

So... keeping Strahd imprisoned is the unhealthy obsession... Aric realized. It seemed counter-intuitive. Strahd was already trapped here, and the old man honestly didn’t seem like he had that long left. Maybe ten years at the most.

He turned his thoughts to Linda’s statement, The leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn... no wonder she is so well-versed in monster lore...  He was certain that he had heard of the Order, but the exact histories of it eluded him. He knew they were a society of some renown. That was about it.

Ruki blinked. She realized the gravity of Linda’s statement. The Order of the Silver Dawn was one of the most well-known orders of monster hunters in Linda’s home world. They operated mostly in secrecy, and were alleged to have archives on the art of hunting monsters well back to the first era... documentation on where and when monsters first appeared, and how to deal with them. 

No wonder she had Lord Strahd leave... she held on to her staff. She doubted Strahd knew of this order in particular, but a leader of any monster hunting society he would perceive as a threat.

Linda waited in silence. 

Finally Van Richten looked up to her. His expression stern and chastising,  "While I respect your order and your position, I have to agree to disagree.”

He rose, “No action taken? He is going to use you to escape! And your order will have a lot more to deal with if he does.”

He shook his head, “No action should be taken to help him, if no action is going to be taken to destroy him. And while we both know he cannot be destroyed by any known means, that removes that option entirely.”

He adjusted his spectacles, “He may be your ally at this point, but you will learn the hard way, as everyone does, that he is not your friend. And any alliance he makes is temporary at best. You may follow your call, and I will follow mine."

Richard frowned, "Actually, Uncle, there is something I needed to tell you,” he waited for the old man’s attention, “You gotta get out of the Shadowfell. Everyone that can, should get out of the Shadowfell. That is why I came to get you.”

Richard folded his arms, “Members of our order found that there are... things... using the Shadowfell to get into the Prime Material. But it's also causing the Shadowfell to collapse... meaning that any living thing that is left in the Shadowfell is going to die. Or worse. And any unliving thing?”

He paused, “Probably won't survive either."

Linda’s stomach lurched, she was right about something being off. She turned to Richten, "You see my point of wanting to find out what is really going on here? Strahd is not the biggest problem."

Van Richten stood and fidgeted with his ring, "It must be the Dark Powers..."

He looked to everyone, "Perhaps there is very little we can do. The Prime Material cannot withstand another attack by the different planes...But if Strahd were to be released...”

He resumed his point, “Could you imagine what he would be capable of? This world is a prison, designed specifically for him. He won't allow anyone to escape it,” he looked to his nephew, frowning, “Richard, you may have doomed yourself in coming here."

"Have you even asked him?!” Linda fumed, “You know Strahd has no idea what is happening!”

She grabbed her crossbow off the table, “You have this convoluted idea that he is unapproachable, and some irredeemable monster that has no regard for the people he rules.”

She thought back to Mina, and Lucien’s conversation, “Do you know he rescues children and turns them over to a priest so that they aren't eventually killed by their parents’ actions? Orphans?"

Ruki nodded, and stepped forth, “Take it from someone who has been inside Lord Strahd's mind. He only desires to be freed from this prison and his curse.”

Linda found her voice raising in frustration... she didn’t even get this loud when Strahd was frustrating her.

"The man is just a man! He doesn't just go on rampages like every other vampire I have seen. He is just a terrible ruler- and as monster hunters, we have no place in killing him over that!”

She pulled out Strahd’s journal, waving it in his face, “You read the journal, but did you actually read it? Or did you read what you wanted to? You were supposed to be the researcher! Do the fucking research! "

The tension in the room was too much for Aric. He quickly muttered, "I'm going to step out and see how Jeeves is doing..." He rushed from the room and rode down the platform.

Linda slammed the journal down on the table and pointed to it, ignoring Aric’s retreat, "Is this a journal of a mad vampire? Or a man spiraling into darkness? Do you even know how he felt about doing the things he did?! NO!”

She fumed, “Because he won't tell anyone else!” She thought of Strahd’s confessions to her and Aric in the study of that manor.

“You stupid old man...” She grumbled, “You have no place in the field..." She stuffed the book away and huffed, dizzy with anger,  "If you won't listen to reason, then I am not helping you. I will find my own way out of here, and conduct my own research."

Ruki walked a bit closer to Richten, satisfied and smug, “Well then, it looks like you have none of us on your side.”

Linda was focused in her anger, hardly hearing Ruki, "You have got to get a clue. You are jeopardizing my mission right now..."

"I watched John die...!” She trembled at the memory of her loved one, the former leader of the order, “I took this mission to find those werewolves and stop whatever is going on here- and if you get between me and that goal...”

She put her hands on her hips, “Well, we will have a problem. And not just between you and me, but the whole Order is counting on this mission being a success. I have been on it for eight years and I am this close!” She gestured, nearly pinching her index finger and thumb together.

She spat, “Don't take this from me."

Van Richten was stoic and calm. But sympathy peered from behind his spectacles. "I'm not going to take any action against him.” He replied, softly, “But once you realize your mistake, I will be ready."

Linda forced herself to calm down, "Don't worry,” she breathed, “As a hunter, I know I have to live with my mistakes...” She put a hand on her revolver, “...and I will be the first one to correct them."

Van Richten waved to Ezmerelda, "Give her the fragment. The more information she has, the better."

Ezmerelda opened the desk and pulled out a stack of fine parchment and writing, held together by red thread. The handwriting was telling: This was yet another part of Strahd’s journal. 

Linda accepted it from Ezmerelda and walked over to a chair, sitting. She pulled out the other pieces and carefully put it in its place,  “Thanks...” she nearly whispered, her voice hoarse and her head dizzy from yelling, “I will conduct more research on this later." 

---------------------

Jeeves and Strahd had been sitting on the crates on the first floor. Strahd was silently working to figure out the secret to the drain. They heard the chains rattle, and looked up to see Aric lowering himself on the platform...

And heard echoes of Linda’s yelling bounce off of the walls. 

Seeing Aric alone made Strahd a little bit more relaxed, but then he curiously tilted his head up, trying to decipher what the yelling was about.

Jeeves stood, confused, “My lord?”

"Just getting a little tense in there,” Aric hopped off the platform before it fully reached the ground, “I figured I would let Linda try to reason with Van Richten.” 

Aric looked to the vampire, “He doesn't seem to like you much, Strahd,” he returned his glance to Jeeves, “And to top it all off, Van Richten has a Qysari Ring."

Jeeves unfolded his arms, surprised, "He does?"Jeeves paused and thought of Van Richten’s manner, and spoke sarcastically, "Oh let me take a wild guess which one it is..."

Jeeves looked to Aric for confirmation, "Is it?"

Aric nodded, "Velsharoon's Bindings,” He nodded to Strahd for clarification, “Protection from the undead."

Strahd made a flippant motion, "Ah, I figured. Fate isn't too kind to me anyway, why should this be any different,” he paused, “You... need those rings, don't you?" A dangerous edge crept into the vampire’s voice.

Aric simply replied, "I do,” Aric explained, “A Vistani woman gave me a prophecy saying 'persuade him to part with his unhealthy obsession, and the treasure will be yours'."

"Good luck,” Strahd sarcastically replied, “I have been unable to persuade him. He holds me responsible for his son's death, and would not listen to reason.”

He held up his hands in a gesture of innocence, “I did not kill his son... the one who did... Baron Metus... was raised- no, created by my hand... on accident.”

Strahd shook his head in frustration, “The Baron...Criminal filth...He escaped from me, and raised Richten's son as a spawn of his own. Richten led an army of my archenemy's ghouls to the Radanavich tribe of Vistani, who had taken his son as their own, for Richten's failure to save the son of their raunie... and broke their protection circle. Ruki...” he looked to Aric, “...is the last of that clan."

“He tracked down the Baron... found his son turned... and was forced to destroy him. He eventually killed the Baron as well- but, as it turns out, that wasn’t enough for him. When he discovered my nature as the First Vampire, and my hand in this... he held me responsible, even though, as I mentioned before... it was an accidental turning.“

Strahd crossed his legs and steepled his fingers, "There are several different manners of persuasion. You can try speaking yourself... or putting him under the sword. Either way, he will part with his unhealthy obsession... whether willingly or by force will be up to you. That is what I learned of Vistani fortunes."

Aric contemplated Strahd’s words as the vampire resumed trying to summon magic past the threads of the barrier. Aric looked to Jeeves, "Please stay with him Jeeves, I will go back and see how things are going upstairs..."

Jeeves nodded, "Yes, my lord."

Aric arrived back upstairs... and found that Richard was pacing and fidgeting. Ezmerelda was stoically by Richten’s side. Van Richten was examining notes, and Linda was reading a book. 

Ruki approached the doctor, shaking her head. She had the time to peer into his mind and found that he already had plans to keep Strahd imprisoned forever... Ideas about destroying three druidic standing stones that he believed accentuated Strahd’s bond to the land... finding an imprisonment spell... to further Strahd’s imprisonment within his own domain, and binding him to his coffin for all time... Such things... were madness. Especially since Strahd was already as trapped as he could be.

She shook her head at him, “You are a mentally sickened mess...” Even Ruki didn’t have this much hatred in her heart for Van Richten, and the Vistani held him responsible for the murder of her clan.

“If you do not forego this obsession of yours, you will have died in vain for your son. For the sake of his soul, save yours and leave this dread land,” Ruki’s voice was calm and sympathetic.

Her words seemed to strike a chord with Van Richten. He shakily stopped writing his notes, and removed the spectacles from his face, rubbing on his eyes.

"She has a point, Richten,” Aric spoke bravely and walked to the doctor, “Enough blood has been shed over this. End this here and now, and hand over that ring."

Van Richten looked to the ring on his hand, “"Why do you want this? Ah, never mind...”

He half chuckled as he twisted it off of his finger, “Who wouldn't want this ring, in this land?” He paused, “I suppose you are travelling with him and are more in danger than I am. Whatever your reason may be, keep it."

Van Richten handed Aric the ring, turning back to Ruki, "I suppose that you are right, little Vistana. No amount of fighting is going to bring my son back. I just wanted there to be less tragedies. I dealt with the Baron. But I still felt hollow. Perhaps I felt that ridding the world of Strahd would solve something..."

Ruki shook her head, thinking about the Vistani and their plight. Her people were in danger, and Strahd was the only protector they had outside of themselves, “It will not solve anything for anyone. It will only create more problems.”

Van Richten silently gathered his notes. Ezmerelda began to organize papers for him.

Linda listened to the exchange and read the most recent piece of the journal she obtained... Marina... Tatayana reborn. She was the first...

She read as Strahd discovered her again, as Vasili... trying to make her remember her past life... trying to turn her into a bride... Protecting her from her adoptive father who wanted to marry her, and the corrupt priest who was taking bribes to allow it-

Linda shuddered. Poor girl. 

Unhappy fate... Just before she and Strahd could share the final vampiric kiss... her adoptive father, Burgomaster Lazlo Ulrich... murdered her. Strahd had his vengeance...

And this happens... to all of them?

Troubled, Linda put the book away and walked over to the platform, and let herself be lowered to the first floor. 

---------------------------

Strahd and Jeeves once more looked up to the platform lowering and saw Linda, tired and rigid, being lowered to their level. Jeeves and Strahd exchanged glances, wondering what she had to say to them.

Strahd stood, claws slightly extended.

Linda sighed and raised her hand to show she meant no harm, "Sorry I had you leave the room."

Strahd slowly retracted his claws and folded his arms, waiting for her to speak to him herself.

Linda saw his distrusting reaction and sighed, sitting on a crate. She admitted, "I should tell you the truth now that everyone else knows and now that it is...” She paused, feeling apprehensive, “It’s okay if your reaction is... less than pleasant."

Strahd quirked his brow and unfolded his arms, speaking slowly, and cautiously, "What is it?"

Linda looked to him, making a face of guilt and apprehension before she took out her crossbow- doing her best to make it seem non-threatening- and revealed her holy symbol in the same manner.

"I lied about my profession..." she squeaked, hoping that he wouldn’t be mad- 

"You mean to tell me... you aren’t a tinkerer?!” Strahd playfully feigned with her in mock shock. He put a hand on his chest, “Linda... how could you?”

She stood, agape- He had the audacity to joke around when she was so clearly distraught-  "I am a tinkerer!” she flipped her hands up, still holding on to her gear, “The other profession!"

"The 'bounty hunter who just so happens to specialize in monsters'?" He steepled his fingers and grinned, “That one?“

She saw his smug grin and debated shooting him with the crossbow... Not enough to kill him, but enough to wipe that grin off his face for toying with her...

Well... I guess it is better than him being mad...

She pouted, "Well it's not technically a lie, more a half-truth. It's what I do, but...” 

She saw Strahd looking at her disbelievingly, and sighed. There was no going back, he already knew he had her caught, “Basically I am the leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn. A renowned monster hunting order in my world."

Strahd nodded and wrapped himself in his cloak, "I figured that was the case,” he raised a brow at her, “You need to come up with a better lie."

She sighed in frustration, "It didn't matter. I was going to have to tell you at some point."

Strahd paused, calculating, "So... if that is what was discussed, what was the yelling for?"

Linda packed her gear away, "I got mad at his initial refusal to listen to reason. He came around... At least to the point where he isn't going to interfere."

"Great,” he replied, looking much relieved, “When will he allow us to leave? Did you figure that part out yet?"

Linda shrugged, "Ruki was talking to him when I came down. I think she is trying to talk some sense into him."

Strahd paused and walked around, muttering in a strange tongue and making gestures... energy crackled through the air... and Strahd held out his hands, sparks flying between his fingertips.

He grinned and bared his fangs, holding his hands triumphantly. Linda rose, looking on with interest. It seemed that Strahd had figured out a way around that spell drain.

Strahd looked to her, smugly, "Khazan will not get the best of me, even in death... It only took me less than an hour to figure out his spell...” he let a few of the sparks fly out, and spoke in satisfaction, “Rot in hell, pompous bastard." 

Linda shook her head at him and smiled to herself. For someone who is supposed to be this big, scary, devilish vampire... he just seems so silly. 

She sat down on a crate and watched his little firework show.

-------------------------------

When Ezmerelda had finished packing up the doctor’s papers, she walked over to Ruki. Ruki looked up from her position in the room, and watched the outcast Vistana.

“You wanted a word?” Ruki spoke the tongue of their people to her.

Ezmerelda nodded, “Who are you? Why do you serve Strahd? What do you know?”

Ruki simply smiled and held out her staff in front of both of them, “Grab hold. All will be clear.”

Ezmerelda hesitated before grabbing hold of the staff...

Ruki’s eyes flashed white as she channeled her psionic energy through the staff, and through Ezmerelda... She was searching for the truth of her past... What Ezme had told them did not match the known history.

Van Richten was there in the camp. He was old even then. He rode into their camp on his horse... and with a raised Vistani male zombie... around him were ghouls... hungry, ravenous...

He shouted at the old raunie... She didn’t quite understand what he was saying... too young... 

Blood... the magic circle was gone, and the ghouls were upon her... She was going to die-

No... grabbed by a pregnant Vistana with curly brown hair, light eyes... they took their chances in the mists.

“Run, little Ezme, run and do not look back...“

Separated... strange land... 

Van Richten... she held onto the name... hatred in her heart. Held on to it... grew... taught herself the Sight...taught herself to control mists... learned to fight... Revenge.

She was ready now, she knew she could kill an old man. Avenge her family, avenge her clan...

Failed. Despair, outrage...

“Then kill me! Kill me like you killed everyone else!“

The old man... looked sad, tired. Full of regret... This was not the face of a killer.

“I’m tired of death,“ the old man told her, “I’m not killing a child. No more children will die because of me.”

He raised his hand to her head... a flash of light... nothing.

Memories... changing... who was he? Friend or foe?

Friend... no, more like a father... 

It was decided then. Decided by magic.

Ruki blinked... So, I am not the sole survivor of my clan after all... She woke Ezme.

“Did you see it?“ She asked softly.

Ezmerelda blinked awake, first looking shocked... then confused, angered... finally she settled on an apologetic look. She took Ruki’s hand...

 "Sister, forgive me. By my words,  I've wronged our people..." her Patterna wavered.

Ruki nodded her understanding, and grabbed her hand back, “The Vistani have always been a free people. At least you know now what connection we have with Lord Strahd.”

Ezme looked to Van Richten with mixed feeling, “I still feel that the world has too many monsters...“ she looked back to Ruki, "You should leave, and find whatever you need. I have to talk to the old man. I... need to ask him some things. I want... to know why."

Ruki nodded her understanding, she returned to speaking the common tongue of Balok, “One last order of business. Are you wanting to leave this dread land now, or will you still linger?”

"I will linger,” Ezme replied, “I will help you."

Ruki glanced to the good doctor, “I want his answer too.”

Van Richten paused in his packing, and looked over to the tiefling, "I will linger a bit. I have unfinished business here."

Ruki raised a brow, “And what business would that be?”

Van Richten looked over his notes,  "Whatever strange creatures are coming through here. I have to help Richard keep them from overrunning the Material Plane..."

Ruki looked over to Richard.

Richard shrugged, "I told Linda I'd help her out. And I intend to do that. Besides, I also promised Urwin I'd keep tabs on you guys."

“Very well...Do not cross Lord Strahd or the Vistani people. Have I made myself clear?” She looked to those gathered.

Richard waved, dismissively, "Wouldn't dream of it."

Ruki gripped onto her staff, “I will take my leave, then.”

She walked to the platform, Aric and Ezme following after her. 

Ezme nudged her, “I will open the exit for you.”

Ezme rode down on the platform with them all, and spoke a command word, releasing everyone. No one disguised their eagerness to leave.

---------------------

After everyone had gone, Ezme sat on the bottom, contemplating. It was hard for her to see that her memories were false... why did he do it? Selfishness? Pity?

She scratched right above her prosthesis. She had been in the monster hunting business ever since she had found Van Richten... Despite what Ruki had shown her, she still believed that something had to be done to bring those that preyed on innocent people to justice.

Van Richten, despite what he had done, despite his flaws was still like a father to her... But...

He is obsessed. Just like the Devil is obsessed...

Two men, alike and dissimilar... 

Something flickered in the peripherals of her vision. She looked to it... Nothing. 

As much as she personally didn’t like it... she had a feeling that something out there was worse than the Devil himself...

[dndeviants]

House of Vallaki

The party followed the road south to the Burgomaster’s mansion, as hurriedly as they could. With a twisted man like Izek taking Ireena captive, who knew what the man’s version of “safe” would be? Even more menacing was the fact the corpse stated that she was also in “fine company.” 

Aric managed to escape the encounter unscathed, Jeeves was only lightly bruised. Linda aided Ismark, as his injuries from the fight were still severe. Ruki used her mystic power to keep her cuts from getting any worse. Vasili was no worse for wear.

Ruki dragged the Burgomaster to his own mansion... and found a three story estate, much more well-kept than the rest of the town. But even that observation wasn’t saying much. The paint was still faded and chipped, the windows foggy with grime, and vegetation overgrown on the front lawn.

Vasili turned to the burgomaster, "And Izek, your lackey lived here with you?"

Vargas stammered at the harshness of Vasili’s voice, "Y-yes! He had a room on the second floor."

Vasili nodded, then turned to the rest of his party, "Then I suppose all that is left is to decide who will retrieve Ireena from here. Ismark is in no condition to be exposed to further peril, and frankly-” He grabbed the burgomaster from Ruki, “I don't trust Vargas not to have any tricks planned."

Linda nodded, "Someone will have to stay with them, especially to keep Ismark stable."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Vasili volunteered, "Alright. Would you prefer I stay behind? I have medicine I can use to stabilize Ismark, and Vargas will be no trouble for me in this state."

Relief flooded Linda. Thank the gods someone had medicine... Ismark was in dire need of it. She helped lower Ismark to a comfortable sitting position while Vasili grabbed hold of Vargas’s bindings.

She was especially thankful for Vasili volunteering to stay behind. She could search the house for Ireena with relative peace knowing that he wouldn’t allow anyone to come in behind them.

She nodded her thanks to Vasili, smiling slightly, "That would be great. I would like to go look through the house."

Vasili returned her small smile and passed over the keys from Vargas to her before tying Vargas’s bindings to the gate behind him. He then knelt next to Ismark, checking his injuries.

Linda walked over to the door, trying to hide her blush, and found it locked. She composed herself and turned back to Vargas, jingling the key ring, “Keys?”

Vargas fumed, “The audacity of-” he cut his complaint short as Vasili glared at him and put a hand on his longsword. Vargas cleared his throat, “The large silver key!”

Linda nodded, and searched the key ring for the correct one.

Aric turned to his friend, “I’m going in with Linda. Do you need to rest, Jeeves?”

Jeeves shook his head, “I am well my lord. Only a slight bruising.”

“If you are well, we can go then,“ Aric walked over to the door, “I hope you don’t mind if we join you, Linda.“

Jeeves joined his master.

Linda looked at the two boys and smirked, “Not at all. I appreciate it.”

Ruki and Vasili exchanged glances. Ruki nodded and walked over with the rest of the party, leaving Vasili alone with Ismark and Vargas.

Linda found the correct key and inserted it into the lock. She turned it, and with a small click! opened the front door. She peered inside...

There was a long hallway, with bundles of sticks and twigs tied together, along with posters for various festivals scattered about.

Linda and the others entered, on guard. Linda turned to her younger companions, “Where first?”

Aric put a hand to his chin in thought, “If I were hiding someone in my house, I would put them in a basement but...” he pointed to a staircase to his right, “I only see stairs going up.”

Linda looked up the stairs, where the burgomaster declared Izek had stayed when they escorted him here... she looked down the hall they were in, and saw several doors leading to different rooms. She smelled the aromas of bread, and heard conversation in a room ahead of her... Upstairs seemed quiet- but she was certain she heard movement above her.

She put a hand on her gun.

Jeeves nodded to Aric, “I agree, it doesn’t seem like this house has a basement.”

"Yeah...” Linda spoke in a low voice, “I hear voices ahead, but movement upstairs. And ahead there is definitely the smell of food..."

Jeeves knelt down and picked up a twig and a flyer, "Festival of the Blazing Sun... how peculiar. There was supposed to be a bonfire for this one." Jeeves put them in his pack.

Bonfire...

For a moment, Aric was back in the square, fighting Izek... But this memory was different... Pushing Izek into a wicker ball... using Aric’s natural fire... setting him ablaze....

Aric blinked. The vision was gone. But it felt so real... 

 "You want to go upstairs?” Linda’s voice cut him back to reality, “Wasn't Izek's room up there?"

Ruki did not wait for him to respond, instead going upstairs with fierce determination.

"Aright... upstairs..." Linda followed Ruki’s lead.

“Hey, you alright?“ Jeeves asked Aric.

Aric nodded, “I’m fine. Let’s go,” Aric put the vision behind him. Whatever it was wasn’t important right now.

They walked upstairs and turned the corner... There was another long hallway and rooms to the right, and a small staircase heading down at the very end of the hallway.  They turned to the right to search the hallway of rooms.

Ruki touched the wall, tapping into her psionics to investigate the events that transpired there within the last day. In her head, she saw servants cleaning, the burgomaster leaving... then Izek carrying Ireena, bound and gagged over his shoulder, taking her up the stairs, passing by where Ruki stood then, and turning down the first hallway... she heard a door close, then saw thugs dragging a man, bloody and unconscious down the same hallway...

Ruki snapped out of her trance, and rushed to the others, pointing down the hall, “Here! Lady Ireena is not the only person we need to save.”

Linda stared blankly at Ruki, unsure of how she was so certain. “Okay...” Linda conceded and followed where Ruki pointed. 

Ruki stayed closely behind her. Aric and Jeeves stayed close as well. 

Linda pointed to the door to her right. Ruki nodded. Linda knelt by the door and tried the door. Locked. Go figure. She examined the lock and her key ring.

She sighed. Not a single match. She looked at the lock... Not original to the house, and there were scratch marks where it was badly replaced. She stood up.

“This isn’t the original lock,” Linda squinted at the door. 

Ruki held her staff, “Let us break it then-”

Aric held up his hand, blocking Ruki’s staff, “I can try to pick the lock.”

Linda nodded at Aric, "Probably better if we don't destroy property if we don't have to."

Aric took out his tools and knelt by the door to get eye-level with the lock. He inspected it, and found that it was almost childishly simple... He smirked to himself, and made more complicated hand gestures, flourishing his tools in a triumphant display when the lock clicked open. He turned to Ruki and Linda, hoping to impress...

But everyone had little time to enjoy Aric’s theatrics. The door creaked open, revealing Ireena, bound, beaten, and gagged on the floor... but as enraging as this sight was to those gathered, rage turned to cold dread as they saw the shelves.

Shelves filled with porcelain dolls of all sizes wearing coppery red hair and hazel eyes... all of them bore an unsettling resemblance to Ireena Kolyana... And each of them had a tag, declaring, “Is No Fun, Is No Blinsky!”

Linda shuddered, but immediately went to Ireena to untie her. Ruki rushed in after. Aric and Jeeves stayed behind, just barely entering the room. Linda began to untie Ireena.

Jeeves warily looked at the dolls, unsheathing his blade, “Obsession much?”

“Honestly,” Aric shivered, “whoever bought all of these must have realized how creepy they are.”

Linda tried to examine Ireena in the room, but the overbearing gazes of the dolls’ lifeless eyes made it hard to concentrate... She fumed at herself. Children’s toys and dolls rarely ever bothered her, but seeing both Ireena’s features and her own in the dolls... it shook her to her core. 

What is the deal with Ireena? What is the deal with me in this place? I gotta get out. Now! She shook her head and carried Ireena out of the room.

Everyone else was happy to follow her out.

Linda and Ruki gently laid Ireena down. 

Linda sighed, “I... don’t usually get freaked out by toys... but... those are not... ” she quieted herself.

Jeeves fumbled through his pack, "Let me see if I can help. I carry herbs on me at all times."

Jeeves examined her and pulled her hair away from her face. He indicated the burn marks on her sleeves, "I say, I think she picked a fight with Izek himself, and he had a mind to make her his 'toy'... thankfully, it seems that she was only beaten and not... worse... Her skirts are not touched. She's bad off, but she will make a full recovery."

Jeeves mixed herbs together in a cream and applied it to her burns. 

Linda sighed. She looked at the poor girl who resembled her so much... the victim of so many monsters and attacks... First with the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich... then the mad priest... then this disfigured man... Even during her long tenure as a hunter, Linda had never seen anything quite like this. Either this woman had really bad luck...

Or she was part of something bigger. She nodded to herself. That seemed to be the right answer. She thought of everything she knew, and came to an uneasy conclusion:

She would have to get answers from Strahd himself. She feigned trying to be amicable toward the vampire lord for Vasili’s sake... But the reality was that vampires could be masterful manipulators, and she was afraid her new friend was already way too deep in the vampire’s grasp to do anything about confrontation yet...

If only there was a way to get to him...

Ruki broke off from the group to search the rest of the hallway. Aric followed her lead, leaving Jeeves to care for Ireena. 

Linda snapped out of her thoughts, It isn’t the time for that now. Rescues first, deal with Strahd later. She followed Ruki and Aric down the hall.

Ruki opened a door, revealing a library... She thought of Strahd’s study in Castle Ravenloft. It was nowhere near as impressive as Strahd’s collection- but to be fair, having even half the amount of books that Strahd had amassed in centuries would have been a feat in and of itself.

Ruki and Aric became quickly disinterested and left Linda to peruse the library. She browsed for a book- any book that would help her understand Barovia’s history and culture. Finally, she found one: Crests of the Houses. She raised a brow at the title, and quickly put the book in her pack before rejoining Ruki and Aric.

They investigated the rooms... most were not out of the ordinary... 

Finally, they reached the back of the hall... what appeared to be a closet door. This one was locked tight. Linda matched  a brass key to the closet door and opened it.

Inside was a man... gagged and shackled to the back wall. His face puffed with the heavy purple bruises. He looked at his saviors, pleading with his eyes to be let go.

Linda un-gagged him, “What happened to you?”

The man gasped and spit out. He took a moment to steady himself before answering in a deep but frail voice, "My name is Udo... I was taken by Izek and his thugs... just because I insulted the burgomaster... the-the baron was throwing a festival, to kill wolves...” He shook his head, “That would just bring trouble on all of us, killing Strahd's pets... plus the burgomaster don't care about us. Just himself. So... I made a sign: 'Throw Vargas to the Wolves'! There was a girl that stood up for me, but she got taken too... is she alright? There was another girl too, but she wasn't taken here... it looked like a little Vistani girl..."

Ruki stepped forward, anxious for Arabelle’s sake, “Do you perhaps know where she would have been taken?”

 Udo panted and caught his breath, "The wolf hunters took her, Szoldar, and Yevgeni. They tend to booze at the Blue Water Inn... you should check there. Let me go, please... I gotta help my boy..."

Ruki nodded graciously, “You are free to go once we remove your shackles. We will be more than happy to escort you out of this building as well. ”

Linda unlocked the shackles with the same brass key, letting them fall to the floor. Ruki aided the man up, balancing herself and him with her staff.

“Thank you for the information,“ Linda told the man. She turned to face Ruki, "Take him out to Vasili. I want to look around more."

Ruki nodded to Linda, “I shall return soon to assist as well.”

Linda watched Ruki take Udo and lead him around the hall. She turned to Aric.

Aric waited for Ruki to be out of earshot, before looking to Linda, “While she is gone, we might as well finish looking around up here.”

They walked off to look down the other hallway, and saw three doors...

Ruki made her way right outside, seeing Strahd still pretending to be Vasili, and charming both Ismark and Vargas. Ismark seemed to be doing well- and completely oblivious to her... and the same went for Vargas.

Strahd looked over to Ruki and the man, and gave her a questioning look, "What is happening in there? Do you need my assistance?"

Ruki shook her head and let the man hobble off on his own. “No need,” she looked to Strahd, “We have found that stranger and Ireena. We will search the rest of this house for any more victims.”

She glared at Vargas.

Strahd nodded, and checked his silver pocketwatch before looking back to Ruki, “Very well. We will determine the verdict at a later time.”

She turned to return to the house but paused, looking back to Vargas and swearing in Infernal, “If we find one more victim in this house, I will make you the next victim...”

She walked back into the Burgomaster’s mansion. She went upstairs the way she came and paused to look at Ireena and Jeeves. 

“Is Lady Ireena well?“ She asked.

"Recovering nicely,” Jeeves mused, “Believe it or not, I have a lot of skill in treating burns in particular. Mostly on myself. Aric had a bit of a temper in the past, and was prone to having accidents."

Ruki nodded curtly, “Very well, your help is much appreciated.”

"Stay safe," said Jeeves.

Linda listened to the house and could tell that there was no one left on this floor... but she heard movement and scurrying on the floor above. She pointed upwards, “We should find a way upstairs. I hear movement.”

Aric nodded, and sighed as Ruki rejoined them. They didn’t get as far as they hoped. Aric continued the search, opening a door...

His nose wrinkled. It was immediately assaulted by ladies’ perfume. It choked off his other senses and gave him a headache... he gagged.

Linda peered in the room, the sickly sweet scent of perfume wafted through the air... she saw a vanity table and a full length mirror with red, black, and gold framing stands... along with a mannequin wearing a white wedding dress.

Something about the room made her feel uneasy, but she wasn’t sure what.

Ruki entered the room and examined the mirror. Her heart skipped a beat. Ba’al Verzi... she was sure of it. The guild’s colors gave them away... The red of blood, the black of night, and the gold that they demanded for their grim work... and the skulls- so carefully hidden in the decorative “floral” piece atop it...

She cautiously reached out with her mind and touched the mirror... In her head, she heard a spell:

Magic mirror on the wall, summon forth your shade; Night's dark vengeance heed my call, and wield your murderous blade.

Linda saw Ruki examine the mirror and muttered, “I don’t like that mirror, Ruki. Be careful...”

In one swift motion, Ruki grabbed her staff and smashed the reflective surface of the mirror... And a spectral form, wearing an ancient style of hooded leather armor, appeared before them. 

It sighed, “Thank you...”

“Be gone now...“ Ruki spoke in Patterna.

Aric and Linda stared in stunned silence as the spectral man disappeared. 

“The cursed artifact is no more. Shall we continue?“ Ruki turned and asked her companions.

“Wh-WHAT?!“  Linda stammered.

Aric confusedly pointed to the mirror, “Did you know that would happen?”

"Did... did you know that was in there?!" Linda blurted.

Ruki shook her head, “No, I did not know the location of the artifact before now.”

Linda  blinked, "No, I mean the... ghost."

Ruki made a dismissive gesture, “The aura came from the same source. I am a mystic, not a psychic...”

"Oh..." Linda numbly accepted her answer, even though she still didn’t know the distinction. She walked over to the next room.

Aric still had many questions, but elected to ignore them and get out of the suffocating room. 

They entered the master bedroom. Everything in it seemed fairly normal: a bed, dressers, footlocker... the only thing out of place was a rope hanging from the ceiling.

Linda pulled on the rope. Ladder stairs slid down and revealed a crawl space to the attic. Linda took a moment to catch her breath and brace herself before shrugging and climbing up the ladder.

One by one, they climbed up into a barren room with a single door. Linda opened the door and was immediately floored with just how much...junk! There were so many crates and chests, and dress forms just... laying about. 

She slinked into the room, trying not to knock over anything, and was just barely able to make out a path... it seemed like there was another room at the end of all this mess.

She grumbled as she made her way over. Aric and Ruki cautiously followed her footsteps. 

Finally over to the door, Linda brushed the dust off that clung to her coat and impatiently opened the door.

On the other side, it looked as if someone had taken old, mismatched furniture and made a makeshift study in this room... A large, dusty rug sat in the corner, with a skeletal cat resting atop it. A young man with dark brown hair, and a premature streak of gray running through it, sat hunched over a leather bound book, reading strange words aloud. 

“Um... Hello?“ Linda ventured.

The young man slammed the book shut and whirled around, stammering as he adjusted his glasses, "I'm sorry! Don't tell father! I-I-I-I know I'm not supposed to be practicing magic right now, I should be studying politics, but please, can we keep this a secret from the burgomaster!" 

Linda raised her hands, trying to calm the man, "It's alright. You don't have to worry about me telling him anything."

“Magic, huh?” Ruki looked around at the loosely cobbled together herbs and components. Then to the skeletal cat, which stretched and purred. She raised a brow, “Necromancy of all magic?”

"I'm Victor... sorry, I get jumpy,” Victor huffed, “My father usually sends Izek or other thugs after me to get me to follow in his footsteps. I practice magic... not... all necromancy. I know how bad it looks, but really, I just wanted to make a spell to get out of Vallaki. Away from Father."

“Practicing magic for freedom from the Mists?” Ruki mused, “No such magic exists.”

Victor turned red, "Well... teleportation spells exist... but mine's not working... at all." Victor turned to the cat and whistled, "Come here Mr. Whiskers!"

The skeletal cat jumped up and trotted over to Victor. It meowed at him, but the meow was hollow and faintly echoed. Victor did not seem to mind.

Linda raised a brow, and put her hands on her hips, "I have a way that you can get out of Vallaki."

Ruki looked over to Linda with amused interest.

Linda jerked her head to motion to the door, "You can just walk. Come with me, if you want. I am intending on travelling around a bit."

"R-really?” Victor looked as if the possibility never crossed his mind, “Sure! Let me just... pack a few things."

Victor scrambled from his desk and started to shove his collection of different books and components haphazardly into a sack. He even tossed in a half-sewn robe. He swung his pack onto his back and held out his arm for Mr. Whiskers to climb onto. 

He pet the skeletal cat on his shoulders and faced everyone, “Alright, I am ready.”

Ruki smiled in amusement. 

Linda adjusted her own pack, "Let's go. Oh and that's a nice name for your kitty there. I am quite fond of animals myself."

Victor stroked his cat’s skull, "Really? My father wanted to destroy it when he first saw, and my Mother and Uncle think it is unnatural. But... Mr. Whiskers hasn't hurt anyone, and he is my familiar. The familiar spell in this book wouldn't work for me, so I had to improvise. So... who are all of you? Why are you here? If it isn't to discipline me?"

Ruki waved a hand, dismissively, “We are here to kill the ones that were sent to discipline others.”

Linda stood agape, "We were in here to rescue a friend, Ruki, that is absurd! It is not my only intention to kill people here!"

Linda started to head out. Ruki smugly called to her, “I never said it was your intention, Lady Linda.”

Linda did her best to ignore Ruki, "Speaking of friends, though,” she looked to Aric, “We should head back to Ireena and Jeeves."

Victor shrugged, "Regardless of why you came, I am happy to head out."

They all made their way past the junk and back to the second floor, where they found that Ireena Kolyana was finally awake... and holding onto Jeeves, crying. Jeeves awkwardly tried to comfort her, slowly patting her on the back, and looking to his companions for help.

 "You've had a rough couple of days miss...” Jeeves said, “It's going to be okay, now."

Ruki went over there and put a hand on Ireena’s back, “If I may, Lady Ireena?”

Linda knelt beside her, "Ireena, are you okay?"

Ireena sniffled and huffed, making it clear that her tears were from frustration as she clenched her fists, "I'm sorry, I'm just so stressed, I couldn't help but cry! I'm so tired of being bitten, beaten, kidnapped, life threatened, betrayed by Father Donavich... I feel like I'm just a danger to be around..."

Ruki shook her head, “Of course not. It is quite an adventure being in your company, Lady Ireena.”

Linda hugged her, "I'm sorry. I left you and you got kidnapped. Next time, I'll be there."

Ireena breathed in slowly, and made a long exhale,  "Thank you. Sorry, but now that that is out of the way... I am ready to leave...” She looked to Linda with determination, “And see Father Petrovich."

Linda stood and helped Ireena stand, "We can go see him. We also need to find a couple of other people."

Ireena nodded, "If I can rest where it is safe, I won't be in your way."

“Perhaps Castle Ravenloft?” Ruki suggested. It was the safest place she knew.

Ireena froze, "No offense, you are really nice- but Castle Ravenloft is the last place I want to be."

Ruki considered Ireena’s situation, and nodded, “Very well.”

Linda spoke firmly, “The Inn should be okay now.”

They all walked downstairs, ready to leave this place... But Victor paused and opened up the dining room.

He called in, "Mother, I am running away for real this time. I am sorry to do this to you. I promise I will write. Tell dad to rot in hell for me."

A tired, female voice called back, "Alright Victor. See you in the morning."

Victor sighed, "Bye, mom."

That settled, they left the house. Victor was startled to see his father out there waiting with Vasili, but once he saw that he father was bound, he spoke smugly, "Seems everything's caught up with you now, old man."

Linda shook her head at the man, "Wow, even your own son hates you."

Ruki stepped forward and put Vargas in a daze. Vasili let go of him and turned to the party.

“I think it is time that Vargas was stripped of his rank, and left in the stocks. Let the Vallakians do as they please with him. The only thing is having to pick a new burgomaster..." Vasili paused and looked to Ireena, pain suddenly flashing across his face as he looked at her injuries. He stepped forward, “One more thing to do then, my dear... is get you to an infirmary,“ he made a loose gesture to the side, “I used my healing potion on your brother-"

Vasili was cut short as Ismark rushed past him to jump and hug Ireena, “I’m sorry I let you down! Are you okay?”

"I'm alright, you?" She looked to her brother.

Ismark chuckled nervously, "Uh, I almost died, if not for Linda and Vasili. Linda protected me in the fight, and Vasili healed my wounds."

Ireena blinked, "Is that so? Then you have my thanks Linda... and you as well Vasili."

Linda ran her fingers through her hair, nervously, "It was nothing. Really."

Ireena shook her head, "Saving someone's life is never nothing. Let's go. Inn or Church?"

“The inn.” Ruki was resolute, “We received information that my sister is held there.”

Linda nodded, “Smart. We can also reserve lodging.”

Ireena looked up to the darkening sky,  "Alright, that will probably be the last thing we can do before nightfall... Can I stay with you again Linda? I'd just feel safer..." she gently touched at her throat.

Linda felt an anger at Strahd for doing that to her. She did her best to appear calm. “You can stay with me,” she granted her permission.

“Thanks,“ Ireena sighed in relief. She walked alongside her brother, “I think... I will join you with a pint.“

"I'm going to have a lot more than a pint tonight, sis," Ismark chuckled.

Linda laughed, glad that the tension was being relieved, “I’ll join too.”

Ruki glanced at Vasili.

Vasili met her gaze evenly, guiding Vargas to the stocks, “What?”

“A drink, my lord?” She pondered.

Vasili paused, "Perhaps. But I only partake in my own wine. I'm... picky."

Ruki smiled thinly, “Of course.“

[dndeviants]

A Family Affair

Ruki meditated in her retreat. She left herself open to the Sight, waiting... waiting... for a vision... a prophetic urge... anything...

Nothing.

She chose to believe that no news was good news in this case. 

This time... this time things are going right. She had no sense of doom, her friends were all alive.

She was determined to keep it that way.

The whispery, faint screams heralded Rahadin’s arrival. She looked up to the mysterious elf.

Rahadin bowed his head,  "Lady Ruki. Lord Strahd told me to fit you for leather armor."

Ruki nodded, and stood from her meditative stance, using her staff to help her rise, “Yes, it seems the current one shall be retired.”

Rahadin guided Ruki, only as a matter of politeness. She had been in Castle Ravenloft since she was a little girl. She knew the castle and its secrets well.

They arrived at the study. Strahd was in his casual outfit... He was staring into the fire of the fireplace, sitting in one of the two chairs there.

Everything just as I remembered... Ruki looked to Tatayana’s portrait. Her serene visage had always haunted and captivated her mentor...

But tonight seemed different. Strahd’s gaze was not fixed on her... and he seemed to be in a contemplative mood.

"Ah, Rahadin. Ruki. Welcome...” Strahd craned his head to them, and smiled softly, “Come in, it has been a while since we could have a little family chat."

Ruki quirked her eyebrow, A family chat?

Rahadin took out a length of marked string, "If I may take your measurements, Ruki..."

“Of course,“ she replied.

Rahadin and Ruki moved to the center of the room. Rahadin had her stand and pulled up her arms, measuring her with that length of string. Strahd rose from his chair and walked over to the pair, clasping his hands behind his back.

 "I haven't even given you a proper welcome home, Ruki...” Strahd playfully dismayed, ”With the guests in tow, I didn't think it was right to put such... personal matters on display..."

Strahd put his hand on her shoulder and gently kissed the top of her head. He spoke softly, "Welcome home.”

Strahd backed away from Ruki and paced out of Rahadin’s way. His voice was chipper, “Now, you will have to tell me all about your trip beyond... what was it like?"

Rahadin walked around to measure her torso, pulling the length of string across her bust.

Ruki sighed, “Not as invasive as this...but pleasant, to say the least.”

Strahd chuckled, "Ah yes, the necessary evils of being fitted for armor... at least you don't have to deal with plate. There were a few pieces I had to be fitted for with plate that were a little bit awkward, especially when I was growing."

 "And I was there for that too,” Rahadin mused. “Excuse me, Lord Strahd..."

Strahd nodded and paced the other direction, focusing back to Ruki, "But your trip was pleasant?"

“Minus the unnecessary luggage, yes. The land was plenty and diverse,” Ruki looked to Strahd.

Strahd folded his hands together, "Any suitable for a retreat? To make a new abode when escaping?"

“East of Daggerford and Neverwinter. The developing city of Whitestone.”

"What makes it stand out to you?" Strahd asked, curiously.

Ruki explained, “It should perfect for establishing another kingdom. It has a resource mine to the east and excellent trade routes to the northwest. As well as safe guarding mountains directly to the west.”

Strahd mused, "It does sound very interesting. Familiar enough environment that I should be able to easily work with..."

Strahd looked to Ruki, suddenly less chipper, "It is a thought. But a thought is only a thought. We can't act on anything until escape is accomplished... but I can wait for now...”

He paused, his voice quiet, “Near Daggerford, you said?"

Ruki smirked slightly, “Indeed my lord. My last trip ended there to acquire your guests.”

Strahd nodded, contemplating, "Earlier, Linda mentioned that werewolves in Daggerford were a consistent problem...”

He opted to explain himself, “While you were on your trip... after the rebellion... I did discover that there was a natural portal just north of the werewolf dens."

A portal? Ruki tilted her head, only for Rahadin to tilt it up straight as he measured around her neck.

Strahd held out a hand, recounting, "While Emil was still head of the pack, I asked him to investigate, to see if it may be one that I could travel through... but never heard back from any of the party sent forth. Kiril became pack leader not long after that."

Strahd paused, "By Linda's reckoning, it had been eight years since then. Which means that the portal's time isn't consistent between worlds. It hardly matters to me. But I thought it was interesting to make note of. Speaking of which..."

Strahd looked to Ruki, "We agreed that I would help you finish your arcane studies and apprenticeship under my tutelage. The years allotted to me for that are almost up... but I must ask you something..."

“Yes, my lord?” Ruki looked to her father figure.

"I have seen you nearly quintuple in power since you left. I can feel that you have nearly mastered every discipline I have put forth to you, master combat and utility with such grace... which begs the question... do you honestly think there is any more that you can learn from me?"

Strahd looked to her curiously.

Ruki felt slight panic... she had forgotten that before Madame Eva and her reset the time, she had been much weaker... Time reset, but she had kept her strength that she had gained. 

She quickly blurted, “How to rule. How to be a leader.”

Strahd blinked at the outburst, and found himself laughing.

Ruki's voice was stronger now, “I will rule someday, and we both know that old crone is all out of tricks...” She felt slight contempt for her grandmother using her as a pawn, “Therefore, I must learn from you.”

Strahd's voice was calm, "Yes, you will make a fine raunie indeed, but I will tell you honestly...I am now struggling with how to rule Barovia myself. But I will aid you. Linda has made the most remark about my... politics. 'Archaic' is what she thinks of them. But... I will teach you what I know. "

Ruki was satisfied, “I have the modern knowledge to better integrate your teachings.”

Strahd pat her shoulder, giving his advice, "Know the people you lead. Know their fears, know their needs, and wants.”

He didn’t quite sigh, “I knew the Barovians once. But... they have changed in ways I cannot understand.”

“You know the Vistani,” He held Ruki’s eyes with his own, “You can provide their needs, exploit their fears and wants to both your personal advantage, as well as the betterment of your tribes. Your Madame Eva has told me that the Vistani are a free people...”

“...but even then, several of your tribes have pledged servitude to me... for protection. Understand that sometimes, sacrifices must be made. You cannot have everything you want... without great sacrifice..."

His voice trailed off as he gazed to Tatayana’s portrait  "... and even then, it seems... some sacrifices... are in vain."

Rahadin stood, and wrapped the string around his hand, "I have thorough measurements. I will see about altering one of the Dusk Elven sets I have. It will be the only suitable leather for your... additions, Lord Strahd."

Strahd snapped out of his melancholy for a brief moment, "Yes, Rahadin. Thank you. You will bring the final pieces to me when you are done."

Rahadin bowed and swiftly left the study, leaving Strahd and Ruki alone.

A great tiredness seemed to overcome Strahd, and he sat on a divan, “You may join me...” he called to her.

Ruki hesitated and looked to him out of curiosity. She knew his moods were wild and unpredictable... but even this was vexing to her.

Strahd tilted his head to look to her, "...Or you may remain standing. I only was trying to be polite."

Strahd leaned to his side, "I do want to tell you, if I haven't already... that I am proud of you, and what you've managed to accomplish. It is no small feat. You have grown so much... and I can't help but feel like... I've missed something."

You have to hide it. A little panic went through her, but she did her best to play it off. She tilted her head in confusion.

Strahd exhaled, "I cannot for the death of me put a finger on what it could be...”

Ruki tried to appeal to his vanity, “Nor do I my lord, aside from my training.”

Strahd seemed to begrudgingly accept that answer, "Perhaps. Ten years is just... too short a time.”

He mused, “It seems as if only yesterday, you were crawling in my coffin, seeking comfort from a nightmare... or sitting on my lap as I read you magical disciplines first, and then folktales... not too long ago playing board games with me and the consorts..."

Strahd laughed fondly at the memory, "Although I did not look it, I nearly dropped dead the first time you summoned the mists around you. I could scarcely believe it... and it made me anxious."

“These mists?” Ruki casually flipped her hand and summoned the mist... they seeped in, and billowed from the bottom of the door.

Strahd breathed in fascination, "Yes, those mists... I was so used to them killing the Barovians, and taking away my dear Tatayana that I feared for you as well..."

“Not only can I call them forth, but I can also hold them at bay,” She dispelled the mists, reveling in her power.

"It is quite the impressive parlor trick... and I can as well use them to hide as a mist myself... Tatayana...” Once again he became distracted and vexed, “...this is another thing that distresses me..."

Strahd, with sudden energy, stood and walked over to her portrait, "I had found her at long last... in Ireena Kolyana.. it finally seemed that I had assembled the family I wanted. The family of my choosing. A loyal brother in Rahadin... good friends and company in the consorts... a genius as a daughter... all I was missing was a beloved wife..."

Strahd rested his arm on the mantel piece. He spoke with pain in his voice,  "I found her when I wasn't even looking. She came to me... when I was handling business in the village.”

“She seemed to know me, Ruki. I revealed myself to her, and bestowed her a dark kiss... promising my love, promising to give her a new life... She begged of me to not let her die...”

He whirled around to face Ruki, a betrayed anger on his face, “Do you realize how devastating it was, to find out that I had been tricked? That she had been used? She despises me now. She's afraid of me..."

Strahd put a hand over his chest, his voice quiet and defeated, "How am I supposed to let go, Ruki? How...? I've already made my promise: my physical form will not pursue her, but how can I persuade my heart to let go?"

She wanted to help him. Her entire purpose for resetting time was to aid him... and protect her people. But this was something she could not give advice on herself. She knew too little.

She pulled out her silk pouch, and sat at his desk... pulling out her Tarroka cards and shuffling them.

She drew three, “Evoker, Illusionist, Raven...”

Strahd turned to face Ruki.

Ruki gestured to the cards, “Ireena is your Evoker. The Evoker of your memories and emotions.The Illusionist is the one controlling the events around you... And you, the Raven, are the unfortunate victim.”

Strahd had been around Vistani enough to know the significance of a Tarokka reading. He stood and walked over to her,  "You have my attention, Ruki."

Ruki nodded, and pulled out more cards to clarify, “Aided by the Aric the Soldier, me the Enchanter, and Linda the Trader. Our enemies will be the Dictator- the one who wants to establish supreme control of the realm.”

She continued, “The Ghost of your past will be his greatest weapon, and the Anarchist who wishes to overthrow you will be his ally.”

Strahd sat slowly in front of her.

Ruki looked to him, “Do you wish for a final reading?”

 "Yes. What can I do to finally let go? What must happen before there is peace?" Strahd asked.

Ruki was perplexed at the three cards drawn, “I will draw two more for clarity...”

Satisfied, she continued, “You are the Elementalist- wild, unstable, seeking support. Your support will come from the Shepard and their guidance, the Myrmidon and their undying loyalty, and the Rogue and their cunning skills...”

She looked over her last card, “Also, the Burgomasters that are in our favor still will be a great help since you need to focus on tending to your people.”

Strahd nodded, "So we carry on... and in time... and with guidance... I will have peace?"

“The cards have spoken. It seems we are on the right path and we mustn't stray,” Ruki folded cards back into her deck.

Strahd contemplated silently for minutes, before answering, "Very well. I shall have to remain vigilant in my course. Thank you, Ruki. "

Strahd steepled his fingers,  "Though I do admit that I am still vexed by the Guardians, and the portals and what their presence means. Perhaps, it has something to do with the Amber Temple... and perhaps tomorrow we will get our answers from Mordenkainen."

Ruki laid down on the divan, “Unfortunately, I do not dabble in the divine arts.”

Strahd laughed, "Perhaps a little dabbling will be necessary, especially since you bear my brother's pendant. But there is no matter. You have it safely in your possession... Ah, I hear Rahadin approaching..."

Strahd turned to face the door. Rahadin entered with the leather armor.

Ruki noticed immediately the fine quality of the armor Rahadin carried... A sleek, black leather... elvish designs embossed into the surface. Fancy, but no less practical. It had been freshly oiled and tailored to her size. A few silver studs lined the armor for extra protection.

Ruki sat up as Rahadin approached her, and accepted the gift, “Ah, Thank you. Rahadin, this looks lovely.”

Rahadin parted with the armor, "You will certainly make better use of it than the last wearer."

She examined it closely... the elvish style embossing resembled raven feathers. On the back torso piece, elvish style raven wings lined the back.

“A lovely touch on the design, Rahadin,” She murmured, tracing over it with her fingers.

Rahadin smiled slightly, "It's not my design."

Ruki looked confused at the elf, but Strahd interjected,  "Ruki, go ahead and try it on. I can add my enchantments once you make sure it fits."

Strahd pointed to the west doors, "My room is just beyond. You can go in to change."

Ruki entered the bedroom and practiced donning the armor. She returned. Rahadin and Strahd inspected the work.

Strahd nodded his satisfaction, "Perfect. It fits her nicely. Are you able to move well?"

Ruki twirled around, “Very much so.”

Strahd laughed, "Excellent!"

Rahadin nodded, "It suits her well."

Strahd walked over to her and took her hand, "I recovered enough arcane energy to improve it further. Take it off and bring it to the work table. I can take out the materials necessary to strengthen it."

Ruki smiled in satisfaction, “Very well.”

Strahd let her go. She left and doffed the armor and returned it to Strahd. He set it up on his desk, and surrounded it with silver, leather strips, ruby dust... and a few other materials...

"Ready?" Strahd looked to her. 

“I suppose so, since I am not currently wearing the armor,” she smirked.

Strahd and Ruki shared a small laugh.

"Alright..." Strahd began to draw a circle with runes on the table and mutter an incantation for the transmutation ritual.

The magic runes began to glow and the materials surrounding the armor vanished, becoming a shadowy essence that swirled around the armor and became one with it...When the spell completed, the leather armor was intact, but the silver on it turned slightly darker, and the black leather reflected a purplish tone instead of a brown or red. Small swirls of purplish energy pulsed through the raven feather embossing.

Strahd admired his work, "I did better than I was expecting... Only having a mere pittance of magic left..."

He presented it to Ruki, "My gift to you, my daughter. May you strike fear into the hearts of your enemies, and protect yourself from harm."

Ruki felt pride in being acknowledged this way. She spoke softly, “Thank you... father....” She gave Strahd a half smile, not quite teary eyed.

Strahd smiled crookedly, but then yawned, exposing his fangs, "My my... I can't believe I've been up all week. I shall have to retire. Ruki, you are free to stay in my room if you wish..."

Strahd looked at the remnants of the rune chalk on his desk and made a dismissive gesture, "I'll clean that tomorrow night. Dawn almost approaches, and I am afraid I have conditioned you and my guests to living on a vampire's schedule..."

Rahadin nodded,  "I will see to it, Lord Strahd. You deserve rest."

Ruki set the armor back on the table, “I am sure Rahadin does not mind this schedule.”

"I need no sleep, only meditation...” he replied, “I have already done mine. I will see to the castle's needs. Lady Ruki, Lord Strahd."

Rahadin bowed slightly and exited the room.

 "Good morning to you too, brother..." Strahd murmured in slight agitation at the sudden exit, but brushed it off before turning to Ruki, “This week has been exciting and eventful. Odd, having people actively trying to kill you every day. Frankly, I'm over it. You rest well."

Ruki returned to laying on the divan. Strahd pat her on the head gently as she layed, caressing her horns, then finally kissing the top of her head. 

“I believe you need it more than I do, father...” She murmured, grabbing on to Strahd’s cloak that he had left on the divan. She wrapped herself in it as if it was a blanket.

Strahd mused, "Perhaps you are right. Good morning..."

Ruki  replied, “Rest well...” she began to drift.

Strahd slinked away to the passage that led to the crypts and hesitated... He turned back to Ruki.

He thought of all the things unsaid... the conversation he had with Aric, Linda... memories of his own father...

“I am proud of you... Ruki...“ he reaffirmed. I never heard it from my father, I’ll be damned if she doesn’t hear it from me.

Waiting... no answer.

She must be asleep, then... he sighed, and thought, She knows...

He opened the passage to the crypts and crept down into the darkness, slowly closing the door behind them.

He followed the old passageways... the dusty walk... the ruinous areas... numbly, and tiredly... not paying much mind. He was used to the decay now. It no longer bothered him...

He reached the crypts and paused... 

Sergei... I have to see... I have to know...

He redirected his usual path to visit his brother’s tomb... He felt a cold pit in his stomach as he opened the tomb...

There was the polished marble floors, the pristine coffin... the statues of angels... everything was as it should be...

Only at first glance. Check the coffin, Strahd. He chastised himself.

He walked further into the tomb, and with unnatural strength, pried off the lid-

Empty.

Laughter echoed in his mind... So it was true... he is... he is back.

He retreated from the tomb, to the safety of his own.

Sleep... you need sleep... Forces darker than even yourself are at work. how can you hope to thwart them if you destroy yourself from lack of sleep?

He slipped into his own coffin, and let the cold of death take him... into a peaceful, dreamless rest.

[dndeviants]

Battle of Krezk

Cold realization struck Linda. Castle Ravenloft... The castle overlooking the Village of Barovia... Far east of Krezk.

Her heart dropped. The werewolves would attack at nightfall. There wasn’t much hope to defend it now...

She trembled as she clutched on to Strahd... anger deep within her stirring, “You...”

A deep, hollow voice beckoned from the darkness before she could let him taste her fury.

"Lord Strahd,” The voice drawled, “I didn't expect you to be returning so... abruptly. Who are these... people?"

Aric startled at the voice and looked to its source. From the dark empty hall, a tall, elvish man with dusky tan skin, long, chestnut hair, and hooded gray eyes stepped forward. His nearly perfect elven features were marred by a wicked scar on the right side of his forehead. He wore studded leather armor, dyed black and trimmed with wolf fur, the seal of the Von Zarovich house on his chest. 

He looked disdainfully at Aric, Jeeves, and Linda, and perched a slender hand on his scimitar. 

They could have sworn that they heard whispery screams when he looked on them.

Jeeves met the elf’s disdainful look with his own. Linda stared in shock at the elf, and slowly released the vampire from her grasp.

Strahd rubbed his chest where Linda had so rudely grabbed him, and took a moment to regain his strength. He turned to the elf, "Rahadin... these are my guests. We... were not expecting so sudden arrival either, but now is not the time, brother."

Strahd spoke with regal authority, "Krezk is going to be laid siege by werewolves. We need to go to its defense."

Rahadin's expression was stoic, "Very well. What are the specifics of the situation?"

Rahadin looked to Strahd’s guests, still keeping a hand lazily perched on his scimitar.

Linda faced the stoic elf, "Strahd teleported us here... with his last spell,” she glared at Strahd, “And the town could be attacked in just a few hours. We managed to rescue the children that the werewolves had kidnapped. But they are... somewhere in the Abbey. Without us."

Linda felt less fury and more anxiety now... the thought of Timothy and the other children being recaptured by those monsters-

She cut off the thought before her imagination got the better of her.

Aric turned to Linda, reminding her, "The others are there as well, hopefully, they will find the children before anything bad can happen."

Rahadin spoke dryly, "I see. Thank you."

Rahadin gazed over at Strahd, "My lord, if I may, I do not think it would be wise for you to return to the fray as you are. You used the last of your magic to get here?"

Strahd made a dismissive gesture, "That or be incinerated by a... giant efreeti, yes... What are you suggesting?"

"Have the consorts go in your stead,” Rahadin posited, “Barovia cannot afford to have the lord of the land fall to mere curs... "

Strahd hesitated, "I don't think it is wise to let them go unsupervised. But I see your point. I'll go, but I won't be a part of the fray. Have no worries. Summon Iagus, and you come as well. We'll have need of you there."

Rahadin’s ears twitched and he furrowed his brow, ever so slightly. It did not seem that he liked the idea of Strahd joining the battle very much, but he yielded to his master, "Very well. I will rouse the consorts, and retrieve the nightmares... wear some armor, or something protective at the very least."

"I'll be fine. There isn't the time for that," Strahd’s tone was final.

Rahadin frowned, "Yes, my lord," he bowed his head before swiftly retreating back into the darkness, taking the small screams with him.

Strahd turned to his guests, "Apologies. That was my chamberlain. Rahadin. There will be time for formalities later... you ride horses?"

Linda nodded and looked at the vampire, dubiously, "How are we supposed to get to Krezk in time, on horseback?"

Strahd ignored her question, "Are any of you afraid of heights?"

Linda’s confusion was beginning to frustrate her, "No...?!"

Jeeves raised a single finger, "Depends on how high. I'm a little bit iffy with ladders."

Aric held up his hands, "I don't do well with heights, but Mehmet has to be stopped, no matter the cost."

Strahd nodded, then held on to his temples... His fatigue was primarily from a loss of magic, nutrition... and doing his best to maintain a human form... A thought came to him...

Well, I suppose there would be no harm in showing the people the... true visage of their ruler. They already know that I am a vampire, he mused... may as well play it up, get the most out of it... and distinguish Vasili from myself entirely...

He let go of his need to appear human, and let his features warp... A sweet release.

All around him saw his face shift to that all-too-frightening visage that they saw in the battle with the Abbot. The dark red and black eyes, the permanent snarl, the bat-like nose, the pointed ears... the fangs....

But his clothing also changed. No longer was he in the drab black of Vasili, now he wore a royal red long, high collar, sleeveless coat with golden trim, a white linen shirt, leather bracers, a heavy fine cape of black and red, with fur about his shoulders...

"Come with me to the stable, then..." Strahd commanded, slinking toward large, heavy doors.

Aric nodded, numbly, shocked by the change.

A pang of guilt tore through Linda. She looked at the vampire and his appearance... He needs... to feed, she thought. He’s been with us constantly the last few days, he hasn’t rested... His spell went awry...He-

He’s putting himself in danger!

Concern overwhelmed her and she rushed over to Strahd, matching the vampire’s pace. She gently reached out to him, touching the leather on his arm. She whispered, “I know you need to feed...” she looked up to him as he paused, and added, “Preferably before we get to Krezk."

Linda felt her blood run cold the way he looked to her. The corners of his lips drew back in a “smile,” revealing fangs. He whispered, “Is that an offer, Linda?”

She froze.

Strahd laughed, "I have needed to feed for a week or so. There's no time for that now. Fret not, I will not be in the fray... but it seems that Lord Strahd will be stepping in to manage Krezk personally... I wonder how they will react to that..."

Strahd mused as he continued to walk outside in the courtyard. The sky was clearing, revealing the purple of just beyond sunset... Linda huffed in annoyance as she followed him, Aric and Jeeves close behind.

Rahadin stood outside, holding the bridles of two strange looking horses. The horses were a sleek black with red, glowing eyes, a mane of flame running down their backs, and flames from their heels to their knees.

Strahd took the bridles from the elf, "Thank you, Rahadin. Make haste, we will join you shortly."

“Escher, Volenta, Ludmilla, and Anastrasya have already started to make their way. Ludmilla used magic to speed their journey, so they should arrive in an hour and a half or two hours...“ Rahadin informed Strahd.

Strahd nodded his acknowledgement.

A large gargoyle lumbered out, and put his hand up in a salute to Strahd. Strahd nodded to the gargoyle. Rahadin hopped on to the gargoyle’s back and flew off westward, toward Krezk.

Strahd handed one of the bridles over to Jeeves, "Jeeves, I suggest you take Aric. It is just like riding a horse. But in the air. It is the fastest way to Krezk. When you are ready, just give it the command..."

Strahd spoke a harsh, single syllable word: The Infernal word for “up.”

Strahd mounted the other nightmare and offered his hand to Linda. Linda took his hand and brought herself up on the nightmare, sitting securely behind Strahd.

Strahd tilted his head to look at her from the corner of his eye, murmuring, “You are going to have to hold on tight to me, or risk falling.”

Linda nodded, “I-I know that...” she cursed at herself for stammering as her face grew hot. She slowly wrapped her hands around his waist.

Strahd smirked to himself.

Jeeves climbed on to the nightmare and braced himself. He offered a hand to Aric, and said uncertainly, “You just... don’t look down.”

Aric clasped his hand, “Wasn’t planning on it,” he pulled himself up, “But thanks.”

Jeeves pulled on the reigns and waited for Aric to settle in. He looked to Strahd, “We are ready.”

Strahd nodded to Jeeves and pulled on his reigns, snapping them, and kicking the nightmare, urging it into a full gallop. Jeeves mirrored Strahd’s horsemanship.

The nightmares bolted, charging full speed toward the westward side...

Linda’s gut clenched. She remembered looking up to the isolated castle, brooding on top of a large mountain... the drop would be thousands of feet! 

She clung tightly to Strahd, ignoring her pride. 

Strahd barked the command, “Up!”

They launched over the ravine, leaping into the air, leaving a trail of fire in their wake... The cold air blasts them.

Aric, despite his best interests, looked down. He couldn’t believe his eyes and his senses. The nightmare galloped as if it were on solid ground, but clearly, they were hundreds, if not a thousand feet up from the chasms and villages below...

...and from the tops of the trees whizzing by below his feet. The flames on the mane of the creature did not burn him, but rather soothed... It seems heights aren’t so bad when its like this, he thought.

Linda opened her eyes and relaxed her grip. She looked out and saw Lake Zarovich glistening in the moonlight, the village of Vallaki... then Lake Baratok, the tower...

She breathed, “It’s beautiful here...”

Strahd overheard her whisper. He spoke quietly, “You should have seen it... when I first came.”

She couldn’t hear him with the wind in her ears. She held onto the vampire and soaked up the beauty that surrounded her, the ancient pines and sturdy oaks, the glistening rivers... She looked just beyond and saw Krezk’s walls.

Torches. Guards were assembling.

They descended. Rahadin and the gargoyle were ordering guards around with Ruki. Several men were dipping crossbow bolts in a small vat of molten silver. The guards tensed and warily looked at their Vampire Lord. Some of them had the sense to avert their gaze, but Strahd paid them no mind. 

Aric and Jeeves hopped off the nightmare. Aric brushed himself off and stretched after the long ride, “ That.... wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I see you have been busy, Lady Ruki.”

Linda dismounted after they landed. She walked straight to Ruki, "Are the children safe?"

“To your positions guards!” Ruki ordered. She watched as they rushed to the edge of the wall, poking their crossbows through arrow slots. She turned to Linda, “Children? What children? I've been organizing the guards here.”

Linda’s heart skipped, "The children that teleported to the Abbey! Where is Mina? Victor?"

Ruki held her staff, “I have not seen them since I left them in the Abbey after the rest of you disappeared.”

Strahd cantered over on his nightmare, "Then we can at least for now trust that Mina and Victor have things under control. We've not the time to spare to go up there, and I've not the magic to scry. Ready yourselves for combat."

Strahd nodded to Ruki, "Thank you for managing this in our absence," Strahd had the faintest hint of a smile under his vampiric features as he looked at his protegee.

Linda collected herself. As much as she hated it, he was right. She turned to the guards and began to brief them on werewolf weaknesses, many still dipped ammunition in the molten silver.

Strahd spoke to the gargoyle, “Iagus. Scout around the walls. Tell me what you see.”

Iagus, the gargoyle spread his wings, “Right, m’lord...” He flew off...

Waiting... so much waiting...

Iagus flew back, “They’re comin’ round front. Consorts are nearly here...”

Four people approached the gates... three women dressed in elegant attire, and a man wearing noble garb. They cried out, “Hail, Lord Strahd.”

Ruki recognized them as Strahd’s vampiric consorts: Ludmila, Anastrasya, Volenta, and Escher.

“And hail to you... “ Strahd spoke.

Strahd called everyone to attention, “Hold your fire until I say so. I have allies of mine on ground level to help thin out their ranks. All I need from you, is to help hold the line and keep the creatures from advancing...” He faced the outside of the gate, looking down from atop the wall, “Krezk has stood stalwart in the centuries of my rule. It will not fall today.”

A horn blared as guards called out to each other. Enemies spotted on the horizon...

The sound of howls, claws against stone, snarling, yipping, barking all blared out into the night. Werewolves rounded the corner and bolted straight to the gates of Krezk with ravenous fervor, but the vampiric consorts met their ranks.

Strahd raised his hand and brought it down, “Now, fire!”

Jeeves readied his own light crossbow, his ammunition laced with both silver and poison. Aric pulled his shortbow out and fired at the small army alongside the guards. He didn’t think that their arrows would do much to those creatures- but watched in morbid fascination as the silver bolts and arrows pierced the flesh of the were-creatures, sizzling in their wounds... the howls of pain echoed through the mountain pass.

Strahd watched as only a few of the beasts fell. It frustrated him that he could not cast spells and level the ranks of the werewolves in seconds. No, he would have to let this play out, much like he did when he was a human general.

He felt those old days returning to him as he turned his attention back to the guards of Krezk. They were no soldiers... they saw how few of the beasts fell. They were losing morale.

That has to change now.

Strahd’s voice boomed, “Reload. Ready your weapons once more, the fight is not over yet. Are you going to let them take your families and homes? Ready, men?”

The guards quickly reloaded. Strahd nodded a general’s satisfaction. He raised his hand, “Again! Fire!”

Bolts zipped through the air, striking the furry hides of the werewolves. This time, more of the creatures staggered, and quite a few more fell. 

Morale was returning, and now the werewolves were close enough for Strahd’s own commanders and consorts to reveal their true capabilities. 

“Iagus, Rahadin... now,“ Strahd simply said. 

His commanders needed no further instruction. Iagus, the gargoyle, flew from his perch, landing in the middle of the werewolves to disrupt their ranks. He revealed ghastly long claws and shredded the back of one of the creatures, before rising and flying further down.

Rahadin nodded to his liege, and gathered mists about him. He gracefully slid down the stone walls of Krezk- and vanished.

Mist gathered in the middle of three werewolves. Rahadin appeared from the mist, his scimitar drawn. He made three quick cuts, and felled the three that surrounded him.

Ana and Escher used their claws to strike at the werewolves, hoping to get into a better position. Ludmila revealed a volley of daggers from her petticoats, and struck each of the werewolves that encircled her.

Volenta approached a large, mutant werewolf... and locked eyes with it. The mutant trembled under her gaze and then pacified. 

“Good boy,“ Volenta purred, bringing the creature under her control.

Those aren’t normal spawn, Linda thought as she reloaded her revolver with some of the silver ball bearings she had found. I’ll ask about that later.

She leveled her gun and took aim. She had all the time in the world, she told herself. She had a limited amount of bullets. Make them all count.

Bang! Her silver round left her gun and met the first werewolf, exiting out of its back into another, and another... Four for one, she would take it.

She readied again... Bang! Another four hit- and one down. She looked grimly as they returned to human form.

She aimed for a weak one, and put it out of its misery with another round.

Sufficiently weak, thought Ruki. She stepped near the wall and looked down at the werewolves. She gripped her staff in her hands and planted it down on the wall, closing her eyes...

Energy crackled around her as wind distorted the world around her and tackled all creatures below her... Werewolf after werewolf fell, cries of panic cut the air as several turned tail and ran.

Aric twisted the Battleblade ring and summoned a wall of spectral blades between the werewolves that chose to remain and fight, and those who had ran. 

Scattering. Confusion. The werewolves’ ranks were thinned... but there was something else approaching.

Aric narrowed his eyes... It was the twisted werewolf from the cave.

Kiril. But he was joined by... someone else.

Kiril growled, his eyes glowing purple as he snarled at the remaining werewolves. Suddenly, the retreat ended, and the creature’s eyes glazed over as they fell under their pack leader’s control.

Kiril turned his attention to the man. He was bald, with a dark twirled mustache and goatee, wearing the gray robes of a mage.

Kiril pointed at the gates of Krezk and barked, "See that gate? That's the gate to Castle Ravenloft... we need you to burn it down!"

The mage looked dazed, but he nodded, speaking in an imperious voice, "Of course... I knew that... do you take me for a fool?"

Strahd’s eyes widened in recognition: Mordenkainen. The mage that he had entertained as a guest and had led the rebellion to his castle.

Rahadin also recognized the man and gathered the mists by him, disappearing, then reappearing in front of the mage, laying into the man with a vengeful fury.

The mage’s robes glowed with magic as the elf attacked him.

Jeeves and Aric rushed down the side of the gate, carefully taking the ladder down. They both felt that it was more advantageous for them to be on the ground, reinforcing the consorts and Rahadin. Linda continued to carefully pick off the werewolves around them as the boys made their way over.

Iagus flew high above the battlefield and swooped down, tackling werewolves with his body, and pushing them over the side of the mountain pass. Ruki tapped into her mystic power to dominate one of the weaker mutants... 

Turn on them, she commanded, and watched in satisfaction as it tore into its former pack mates.

Anastrasya and Escher fell back to the walls that surrounded Krezk, and began to scale the stone upward, as naturally as spiders. Ludmila retreated behind the Blade Barrier for safety as Volenta ordered her dominated mutant to continue attacking.

Strahd looked over his bloody chessboard and made calculations. The next few moves would determine the game. The enemy had revealed their queen piece, Mordenkainen...

Rahadin was engaged with the mage, but action would have to be taken now to avoid having to sacrifice his own pieces.

The greatest humiliation is losing queens to pawns. 

“Rahadin, fall back!“ Strahd shouted at his chamberlain, before commanding the guards, "Focus your fire on the human mage. Make sure he doesn't leave the ground or fly. If he does, there is nothing I can do to protect this town!"

Rahadin obeyed his master’s wishes, falling back away from the mage and obscuring himself in the small shrubs near the wall. 

Bolts zipped through the air, and glanced off of the mage’s magic robes- but the bolts were too much for even magic to counteract, and the magic failed... The mage seemed to ready a spell, but one last bolt zipped by his head, glancing it, and knocking him unconscious.

Strahd felt satisfaction as Mordenkainen fell.

The captain had his men reload and fire volleys at the remaining werewolves. Kiril snarled as a few pierced his hide. He abandoned the mage and vaulted up the mountainside using his vampiric enhancements to subvert the slope. He jumped from the mountainside down on to the wall walk.  The guards nearest to him quickly tried to turn from the fight below to defend themselves. 

Kiril bared his fangs and drew his claws, spattering the gray stone with blood as a guard fell beneath him. He turned to another of the young men, and lifted him up by the shirt, snarling and smiling... savoring the man’s fear before he clamped his jaws around the man’s throat, and ripped it out before the guard could scream very long.

Linda’s eyes widened. The pack leader had breached their defenses, and would tear his way through to them...

Not if I meet him first! She ran over to Strahd, who still sat atop the nightmare, and quickly hopped on, taking the reigns from him, “Let’s go!”

Strahd was startled, “Linda, what are you doing?”

Linda ignored him and pulled out her revolver, firing at Kiril across the way as she galloped. Strahd held on to her and saw the new threat, heart sinking...

Ruki saw Linda’s lead and beckoned the other nightmare to her, joining Linda in the charge.

Kiril howled as the silver pierced his hide, and glared at the guards and nightmares approaching him. He flung the carcass in his claws to the side and roared, “Come at me, then!”

Ruki took the challenge and hopped off the nightmare, raising her staff, imbuing it with mystic power and slamming it down on Kiril’s head. 

Kiril took the blow, and staggered back. 

Ruki planted her staff on the ground and heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Good evening, m’lady...“

She looked behind her to see Escher, sitting cross-legged on the embrasure of the wall. He winked at her, and un-crossed his legs, hopping down daintily. He raised his hands to his mouth, cupping them, and called out.

Ruki instinctively covered her ears. Escher’s insults were especially cutting.

"You lowborn cur!” He disparaged, “Hardly even a proper werewolf, look at you!” He gestured to Kiril in disgust, ”You look like you have a bad case of mange! You look less like a dog and more like a rat! A mangy sewer rat!"

Kiril winced as the blood spilled from his ears. The little man’s words had cut him... but he laughed, "Your words are weak..."

Mist gathered at Kiril’s feet, and quicker than one could blink, he was in Escher’s face.

“... like you...“ he growled and swiped at the vampire spawn’s head, narrowly missing as Escher dodged.

Linda slowed her charge, uncertain as the pack leader attacked the men, leaped at them...

This is the monster who killed John...

Strahd put his hand on top of her hand with the revolver and raised it in front of her, aiming at Kiril. 

His voice was clear and quiet... Linda couldn’t hear anything but him.

“Fire at him again, Linda...“ his breath tickled her ear. Her chest tightened.

“Aim for his heart,“ he quietly commanded, “Remember, he is more like me than his werewolf brethren now... Silver should do him in doubly.“

Strahd let go of her hand and took the reigns from behind her, kicking the nightmare to charge again. He drew his sword from his side...

Linda snapped out of her hesitation and aimed at the monster’s chest. Time seemed to slow... she calmed. There was no worry, no guilt, no fear... Only her and the monster she had to put down. 

Bang... what usually happened in a moment took forever.

Kiril gasped as the bullet tore through his chest, eating away at his heart... a gaping hole of sizzling flesh was all that remained of his heart. He took knee and panted, staring downward in shock...

Strahd pulled on the reigns, his nightmare reeled back as he brought his sword down on Kiril’s neck, severing his head from his body.

The head had a momentary expression of confusion before it dissolved into mist, it’s body following shortly after. The nightmare snorted, stamping its hooves as the mist retreated off the side of the tower. 

The horns blared once more... but this time in victory. The guards let out a cheer as the beast fell, and the remainder of the pack ran with their tales tucked between their legs. The sounds of their triumph echoed through the mountains.

Strahd sat with Linda, satisfied at the outcome of the battle, and impressed by the work his guests had done. He sheathed his sword once more. For the guards, and for his guests, this was a moment to revel in victory, but for him... it was only the beginning of his work.

It is true what they say, after all, he mused. Yes, there is no rest for the wicked.

------------------------------------

As the cheers echoed, a single trail of mist retreated, seeking that rest... and swearing vengeance on the woman that had humiliated him. Unlike others of his kind, death for Kiril, was only a temporary state...

They won’t find themselves so fortunate, he swore.

[dndeviants]

Abominations

Linda’s eyes widened in shock as the mass of writhing corpses held together by metal binds barreled out into the open. She raised her gun in a panic, and ran backward into the courtyard, shooting as she went.

Mina had much of the same idea, trying to stay out of the creature’s path. She loaded her crossbow and aimed-

The bolt buried itself in a mass of flesh... hardly even staggering the damn thing. She reloaded and fired again, this time hitting the fleshy mass in its stitches. The bolt tore through, and released a green ichor.

She almost wished she hadn’t done that. 

The creature bellowed- shrieks pierced the air from the many mouths and faces that were haphazardly sewn together, limbs writhing in pain.

All of its eyes returned to the tiny entry way, and it lumbered awkwardly before using its limbs to suddenly propel it forward.

There was no way it was going to fit through the little door.

“Move! Get cover!“ Strahd commanded. Years as a general took hold-

The golem burst through the entire wall, scattering stone and rubble, knocking the oaken door off its hinges. Debris flew everywhere. Ruki gripped her staff, and used it to propel herself out of the way of the falling stone. Aric ran away from the creature, nimbly avoiding the falling stone.

Strahd was too close to where the door used to be. He had to rely on his supernatural abilities, misting just as a large chunk of stone wall passed through where he stood.

The golem crept out into the open, turning its mass left and right, so that all of its eyes could peer out.

They settled on Ruki. 

The many legs skittered, the steel frame creaking to keep up with the motion. It barreled into Ruki.

Ruki flew back through the air, winded and stunned. Her vision blurred as she hit the ground, tears rushed unbidden to her eyes. She was already in pain, this was just so much worse.

Aric’s eyes widened as he saw Ruki fly backwards. He crept behind one of the large sections of wall and held the Sunsword in his hand. It hummed, ready, but he willed the blade not to light- not yet.

The mist that Strahd had become crawled on the ground, settling by Linda. He willed himself to return to human form and spoke quietly to the woman, watching as the hulking golem approached Ruki again.

“You have good aim, yes?“ Strahd asked.

Linda was incredulous, “Yeah?” She ducked around a fallen stone.

“Good,“ Strahd pointed to the golem that was nearly upon Ruki, “Aim for that pump on the back, see it?“

Linda pulled a speedloader from her side and refilled her chamber, “Yeah, I see it.”

She took aim at the pump on the back of the creature. It was a kind of glass encased in a metal cage, pumping green fluid through the golem. 

The golem raised a long limb to strike at Ruki. 

Strahd tensed, “Shoot now!”

Bang! Glass shattered, and green fluid burst from its container. The golem reeled backward, trying in vain to clutch at the broken pump.

“Well done,“ Strahd praised Linda.

Linda blinked and nodded, “Uh, no problem...” She watched as Strahd moved to a different position on the field.

Thank you, my Lord, thought Ruki as that had given her just enough time to recover. She drew her Ba’al Verzi blades and summoned a mark of death against the creature that had dared attack her. 

One slash, two... she channeled mystic power, hoping to destroy the creature... Limbs fell off of the mass, but it was still moving. It seemed to be a much more powerful creature than she anticipated.

A bout of flame struck the creature. Ruki looked to the source: Victor Vallakovich.

Victor whooped, “Take that! And another-” he held out his hand and hastily tried to cast the spell.

Too hastily.

In his effort for speed, he neglected caution and mispronounced a word of power, sending his arm ablaze. Shocked he tried to pat down the flame.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Stop!“ He put the fire out on himself.

Almost useless, thought Ruki, disappointed.

Mina let her bolts fly, but missed. Jeeves took the opportunity to move to Aric.

Linda examined the creature, and looked for where the green fluid peered out underneath the stitches. Strahd gave good advice, and she would have been a fool not to follow it. She fired three shots in quick succession, severing one of the major stitches, and releasing the green, sickly fluid. 

The golem shrieked in a berserk rage, slamming Ruki backward, and barreling toward...

Strahd. 

Damn. Inconvenient... Strahd thanked the lack of sunlight before he began a transformation... one that was unique to him. 

His features warped into a bestial shape, he could feel his body growing as his arms turned into large, bat like wings.

Linda stood, dumbfounded as she watched him transform into the drawing she had seen in Van Richten’s tower... similar to the hybrid form of the were-bat. 

The golem raised its limbs to pound Strahd into the ground, but missed, Strahd narrowly avoiding it as his transformation completed.

Aric crept behind, making his way to the golem. He held the hilt in his hand as he leaped onto the creature’s back, pressing the hilt to the remains of the pump. 

The blade of sun manifested inside of the creature and  burned it. Aric disengaged, dismissing the sunlight.

Strahd took advantage of Aric’s attack and slashed at the golem with his form’s claws. He gripped onto the creature and focused all of his strength...

The sound of flesh ripping echoed through the courtyard, pieces of the golem fell, and Strahd roared in triumph, letting the beast within become satisfied. Ooze pooled at the bat creature’s feet, but Strahd cared not. 

After a moment he turned around, his voice a hiss from the contours of that form’s face:“Who all sustained injury? Ruki? Are you well?”

Victor grumbled, unfazed, "Nope, no injury here, just... robes I have to replace."

Strahd snorted at the remark and lowered himself to the ground, knuckle-walking with his wings over to Ruki.

Ruki focused on her psionic power... healing herself through the power of her own thought... but she was still gravely injured. She looked up at Strahd’s approach and insisted, weakly, “I am fine, my lord.”

Strahd paused and reached out a clawed thumb from his wing to touch Ruki’s forehead. He knew she was lying to him. Embarrassment at being hurt, pride...

He focused on returning to his human shape, still holding on to her head. He had a few spells he could cast... and plenty of vitality... he could afford to make a sacrifice now.

“Today has not been your day...”He muttered and cast a spell that he had created- a version of life transference... He could transfer living energy from one person to another or...

Sacrifice his own life force to sustain hers. His regeneration would not give that back to him- not until he rested in Castle Ravenloft.

He felt his own life force siphoning into her, and watched as his stolen life force healed his adopted daughter. 

“Better?“ He asked softly.

Ruki nodded, wiping green ichor from her daggers and sheathed them, “Yes, thank you.”

Linda watched the exchange and spoke quietly, "I think everyone else is okay." 

Aric strapped the hilt to his belt, "Everyone good, shall we continue?”

Strahd put his hand on the hilt of his sword and nodded, “Press on.”

Linda tilted her head in acknowledgement and held her revolver at the ready.

They stepped over rubble and entered the long, dark hallway. It had several rooms and a stairwell leading up. Whimpering seeped underneath the doorways of several rooms, and a single mongrelfolk cowered in the hallway.

Aric walked to a door and opened it. There were three fearful mongrelfolk in here... One of them cradled a brass candlestick... but this room had nothing else of importance. He left the door open for them.

Linda opened a door of her own, and as soon as she opened it, small, hunched mongrelfolk started to spill out, eager to escape the room. She let them pass, and saw remains of flesh and skeletons on the floor.

She didn’t want to think about what happened. She backed up slightly, remaining cautious.

Aric checked another room. This one had five of the creatures fighting with each other... and a wooden statue of a woman with teeth marks on it. Nothing else there either.

Linda opened another room to see seven mongrelfolk sitting around one that was waving a gold statuette like a music conductor... They sang:

"The devil dwells in his dark house,

Upon the Misty Pillar. 

First he'll drink her sweet, sweet blood, 

And then he'll have to kill her..."

Linda felt chills... It was obvious that it had something to do with Strahd. But where it originated, or why the mongrelfolk would sing it was... beyond her. She left them be.

Aric opened another door: mongrelfolk chanting some kind of incantation begging for food. 

Linda’s new room was a nursery... mongrelfolk mothers and their young...

They found much of the same in the remaining rooms. It seemed that this floor was purely storage for the experimental beings.

Jeeves made a noise of confused disgust, "How many people did this guy have and no one noticed?"

"Its a large town,” Aric admitted, “People may not have even notice they all went missing. Then again, he could have claimed they died.”

Jeeves put his hands on his hips, "I suppose so. But this location isn't the most subtle, either. It is on top of a mountain. You'd think that people would see others coming up."

Aric nodded, "That is true, maybe we will learn more as we explore."

Strahd walked forth, “There were seventeen women and children used to make the golem bride... that other golem would have to use around thirty five, forty corpses...”

Strahd made a gesture, “And these mongrelfolk... there is at least fifty of them. These people were all human once. All in all, nearly one hundred people that we can account for, and even my reports of those missing cannot amount to that..."

Linda froze, "Then where did he get them?"

Aric looked to the vampire, "It concerns that you know the number of people needed to make a golem."

Strahd looked to Aric, "The Abbot admitted the number for Vasilka's creation. I can deduce how many would be needed to create the other. I studied necromancy. I prefer not to deal with golems. I find their tendency to go berserk a nuisance, and they aren't apt assistants."

Strahd made a dismissive gesture, "Most necromancers create golems to research ways outside of lichdom to achieve immortality."

Strahd folded his cloak around him, "The Abbot was already an immortal creature. He claimed Vasilka was for me... but he would know that a golem has a psychic link to their creator... probably needed to use her to spy on me..."

Strahd pondered, “But unless she was severed from his control, she should have suffered near destruction from his death... so perhaps he was not the creator, but definitely the harvester..."

Strahd turned to Aric, "This... Mehmet. Do you think he would have something to do with it? We know they were all conspiring. Was he a necromancer?"

Aric shook his head, "Highly unlikely. Necromancy is looked down upon in our culture, more so than in others. I doubt he would sink to that level to achieve his goals here."

"So this is a full fledged conspiracy, then. Interesting..." Strahd murmured in a way that made it clear that he did not, in fact, find it interesting.

Without another word, he skulked up the stairs, Linda following the man closely behind.

[dndeviants]

Sunny Memories

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Linda shook her head and fumed as she walked away from the Shrine. Stupid feelings... Stupid vampire! And stupid me for liking him still... just give up already, Linda.

She tried to clear her head, Just get a grip. Face the facts. He’s not gonna love you. He probably doesn’t feel that way about you. You are just imagining things, because you are lonely. 

He loves Tatayana. 

A little pang shot through her as she thought about it. He bit Ireena because she was Tatayana reborn... He promised he wouldn’t pursue her-

Until he sorted everything out, he said. A deep pit of anger stirred in her.

Can’t he see that this is only going to hurt her? Hurt him? Stupid man! Best not to get involved with him emotionally... He’s probably manipulating me anyway... 

A hint of embarrassment flushed her face, I can’t believe I yelled at THE Doctor Rudolph van Richten for him! UGH!

She came upon a busy marketplace. She adjusted her pack of jewels she had taken and focused on the present. She went up to a stall, “Excuse me, do you know where I can trade these in?”

The man at the stall smiled at her, “Nah, nah, we don’t trade in those here. Best to look for what you need and take it from there.”

Linda was stunned, “Um, ok... I guess...” she thought about Strahd’s words about Mount Ghakis, “Winter wear? I’m... expecting to go mountain climbing...”

She was guided to a stall of furs, and was persuaded to buy new sets of clothes... A hardy winter coat with fox fur trim, mountain climbing boots with crampons, three different pairs of gloves... she pulled out her coinpurse-

Everyone in the market seemed to notice the glint of gold and bombarded her with demands to buy their merchandise. 

She panicked and tried to politely retreat from the market, working her way through the crowd... It was like the people there had never seen gold before-

And they probably hadn’t.

I need to get back, I’m getting crowded! She pushed and shoved, looking for the Black Carriage to put her purchases into and catch a breath.

----------------------------------------

Strahd sighed to himself and sat at the base of the tree, pulling out his spell book. He could still cast his minor spells... cast them for days on end. He had enough energy to cast one of his most powerful spells... he needed to recover.

He opened up his spell book on his lap, examining the ancient parchment filled with diagrams, codes, glyphs... he studied the Art and allowed himself to relax-

Which was a feat in and of itself, given the location, and situations earlier that day. He felt magic power being restored and eased. He would take all that he could get.

Aric approached the vampire, speaking with Jeeves, and all around him, "I believe we should return to the Abbey and see what else there is to find. The Abbot may have been hiding more than we know."

"More rings?” asked Jeeves, “Or more of those.. things?"

"Or maybe something that will lead us to Mehmet," Aric added.

Strahd closed his spell book and stood, shrugging, "We may as well. The Abbey was a storage place for valuable tomes and other things. It would probably be best to investigate. And, I can do so freely without worrying about the holiness,” he paused, “I'm not so certain about Sergei..."

Mina folded her arms, shuddering, "I'm not looking forward to going back there so soon."

Victor perked up, "Tomes? Do you think they would have spells?"

"It is possible,” Strahd admitted, “But it is also more clerical in nature."

Victor picked up Mr. Whiskers, "I'm fine with that."

Strahd turned to the path to the Abbey, "Then let us go."

---------------------------

The Black Carriage! Somehow, it had made it past the gate, and was resting in the middle of the street. The townsfolk that were out avoided it like it carried a plague...

But for Linda it was sanctuary.

She carried her heavy clothes over the carriage and tried to open the doors-

Locked. 

She tried to open them again, and jumped back startled when the carriage growled at her.

She sighed... Of course it had magic... The last thing she needed was a sentient cart keeping her out.

“Look, I appreciate what you are trying to do-“ she hissed in a low voice, not trying to seem crazy to the townsfolk, “I’m not stealing from Strahd. I just need to put my clothes away!“

The carriage growled uncertainly.

“Please?“

The doors begrudgingly opened for her.

“Thank you...“ she breathed, putting her clothes away. She backed out of the carriage, “Now it’s time to go find Strahd.“

The carriage buckled down and locked its doors, humphing as Linda jogged briskly away.

-------------------------------

Still smells like burning, thought Aric, distastefully. Putrid smells of the dead and dying also lingered. The whimpering of the mongrelfolk punctuated the stagnant air...

Sergei was trying his best to calm the creatures... to no avail.

Ruki felt a tingling sensation, Something with power... the hilt? She touched the hilt by her side-

Images flashed in her mind... all of a sudden she was like a ghost... observing glimpses of the past:

The stone of the Abbey was pristine and nearly silver with how clean it was. Not a lot of grime caked the walls, and the day made the stone glisten.

Strahd stood next to her. He was... younger looking here. More tanned, his hair shorter... human. He stood next to his brother, Sergei.

Sergei carried a sword by his side... A sword with a crystal blade and a platinum hilt. He looked up at the fortress in awe, "Are you certain, brother?"

“I am,“ Strahd replied in a matter of fact voice, "I am turning over Krezk Fort to the High Priests. This will one day be yours.”

Strahd shrugged, and smiled at his brother, “It may not be as colorful as the cathedrals in our homeland, but with the right artisans, and blessing from High Priest Kir, this will make a fine Monastery... or Abbey."

Sergei’s bright blue eyes twinkled with pure adoration toward Strahd, "Brother... that is so kind of you! With this and the produce from Krezk, it will aid my charity work and bring comfort to the poor..." 

He gave Strahd a look of mischief, "In a politically sound way, of course."

Strahd laughed, "Indeed. Alek, show him around..."

"Yes, my lord..." A man with foreign features... dirty blond hair, slightly hooded eyes, a knife-shaped nose walked forth.

Ruki jolted back to her senses. The hilt hummed briefly in her hand, and the warmth faded. She debated leaving it- but decided against it, moving forward.

Aric put his hands in his pockets, kicking up dirt as he spoke, "I don't think we checked the north side of the Abbey when we were here last, should we begin there?"

Strahd walked with the young genasi, "That would be a good start."

Ruki nodded, the north side would be a good place to start. She stepped forward.

The blade hummed again, intrusive visions flooded her mind:

Strahd and Sergei... blood... screams... Wedding... Sergei! Blood! SERGEI!

A voice seemed to scream in Ruki’s mind. She cried out, dropping her stoic facade and clutched her head, nearly weeping from pain.

Strahd bristled from the unexpected reaction. He ran to his daughter’s aid, “Ruki! What is the matter?!”

The hilt began to burn in her hand, she growled and threw it on the ground-

Instant relief. She panted and stood, gripped with anger. She held onto her staff and raised it above her head, ready to smash it-

Aric jumped in front of her, “Don’t! We need that-!”

He swiped the hilt out of her destructive arc, and felt it hum in his hand...

What? He felt weak in the knees as cold seized him. He looked down at his arms and saw the ember light drain from his szulduar...

Draining him... then he saw the blade... a blade of  pure sunlight. Instinctively, he raised it above his head as a crystalline female voice hummed:

“Long have I awaited to have a blade once more...“

Instinctively, Strahd grabbed Ruki and jumped back with her. He raised his cape to conceal his eyes... the sunlight blinded him-

He fumed, Sunlight!

Aric regained his composure and spoke to the sword of sunlight, “So...” he tilted his head, “You talk and take things without asking..."

Aric felt the intelligence peer into his mind. The female voice mused, “It seems we have that in common.”

Strahd whispered to Ruki, his attention still on the blade, "Are you alright?"

“Yes,” she glared at the beam of light, “It seems that artifact is not fond of me...”

"It would seem that the sword indeed is still a danger...” Strahd felt a pit of anger emerge, “Damn! Khazan, he said that he destroyed the thing!"

The blade of sunlight grew brighter, radiating anger, “You would have liked that, wouldn't you, monster? You killed Sergei, and you tried to kill me too.”

Aric looked to Strahd, stunned. Ruki raised her staff defensively. 

Strahd wrapped himself in his cloak, squinting, "So, you have sentience. That... is a surprise."

The sun blade spoke, “My voice was contained in my crystal blade. Only Sergei, my wielder, could hear me. Now my blade is gone. But perhaps I've stumbled on to something better...”

“Sentient or not, everything can be destroyed...” Ruki raised her staff in warning, “...and everyone.”

The sunsword flared up again, “That is the truth. Anyone or Anything can be destroyed. But I was made for the High Priest, to combat the forces of darkness that was encroaching on...”

 “I can't remember where, but it was somewhere... where I was from...” The sunsword spoke softly.

"That happens,” Strahd was unsympathetic, “ You are here long enough, and the Mists will make you forget where you are from. Now kindly... disperse, so that we can continue our investigation."

Strahd made a shooing motion.

The sunsword, resigned, faded. Aric stood with the empty hilt, still in shock.

Victor adjusted his glasses, "Amazing. I would like to study that."

Strahd ignored Victor and walked back to the north side of the Abbey, stepping past Mongrelfolk. Ruki bristled at them and puffed herself out to seem more intimidating. 

Strahd pat her on the back, "I don't think they will bother us, so there is no need."

Strahd glided through the crowd of mongrelfolk and paused, tilting his head... He heard... his name being called?

He faced the sound-

Linda?

“Strahd! Strahd, thank goodness!“ Linda dashed up to Strahd, catching onto his arm to steady herself as she caught her breath and clung to him.”You would not believe what just happened.“

Concern overcame Strahd. He steadied Linda with his other hand, and looked into her eyes, "What happened?"

"I went to go sell the jewelry and...” she huffed, gripping on to the vampire, “Those people had me buying things instead. Then, they saw I had gold pieces and became scavengers and wouldn't stop trying to sell my everything they had...” she looked at Strahd incredulously, “How do you get around?!"

Aric folded his arms, "I'm surprised you weren't robbed; walking around with gold and jewels."

Ruki tsked, “This is why we have a buddy system in place when going to the marketplace.”

Strahd looked to Linda clinging on to him, relieved that she wasn’t attacked... He laughed, genuinely, "You are beginning to see my view of the Barovians. You do not have to worry of thieves, though. The punishment for thievery outweighs the rewards, and there is very rarely any thieves in my country. And when there are thieves...” He smirked to Aric,  “they are usually foreigners."

Aric mocked offense, "First off, I would never...” he turned to Linda, “Secondly, you missed out, Linda; the hilt Ruki found turned out to be a talking Sun Sword...“ he paused, “It doesn't like Strahd."

Linda blinked, "What?"

Strahd made a flippant gesture, hoping to distract, "That doesn't matter right now. The sunsword is... unimportant. What is important is discovering what the Abbot was hiding and what it has to to with Kiril."

Linda nodded in agreement.

Strahd looked down at her... she was so close to him, holding on to him... His hunger stirred, but he bit it down. 

Thud. There it was again, in his chest...

He pat Linda’s hand that rested on his arm, and quirked his lips in amusement, speaking softly, "Are you well enough to walk on your own?"

Linda looked up to the vampire’s smug face and quickly released him, brushing off her coat, and turning away to walk. “Yeah, I’m fine..”

As she walked off, Ruki stepped next to Strahd, nudging him.

“Ahem.. focus, my lord.” Ruki looked coyly to her father, “And I do not mean on frivolities.”

Damn... it would be no good to wear his emotions on his sleeve. With centuries of practice, he relaxed his face into a stoic, emotionless expression. He spoke, "Alright. Let us go."

They crossed over to the north side of the Abbey, and pulled open the wooden door. A blast of stench and cold air hit their faces, and a strange skittering noise echoed up to them...

A huge, hulking figure of flesh, metal bindings, pumps, and tubes turned to face them. It snarled from many mouths, and lumbered toward them- too quickly to be anything but hostile.