Session 12 - Shadows of the Silver Dragon

General Summary

Investigating the Watchtower

The party's journey led them to the ruins of an old watchtower, its crumbling stone walls adorned with faded silver dragon iconography. The tower, long abandoned, seemed to whisper of a forgotten age—one where noble warriors once stood against the darkness. Amidst the dust and decay, the adventurers discovered an ornate silver pendant, its surface frosted with an unnatural chill. Though its purpose remained unknown, the pendant pulsed faintly with an old magic, a relic of a time when Barovia still had its defenders.

The Ravine and the Wolf Ambush

Continuing their travels, the group reached the top of a steep ravine, where they were beset by a pack of five wolves. The ambush was cunning—two of the beasts were noticeably larger and more aggressive, driving the party toward the cliff’s edge. Below, in the valley, a sixth wolf waited, watching with keen intelligence, ready to pounce on any unfortunate soul that was knocked from the precipice.

Despite the wolves' tactical assault, the party stood firm. Blades flashed, spells crackled, and soon the earth was stained red with the blood of the fallen beasts. As the battle turned in the adventurers’ favor, one of the remaining wolves fled down into the valley, attempting to escape. But Shaggilldorph, with a steady hand and an even steadier aim, let loose a deadly shot across a great distance, striking the beast down as it ran.

A Sinister Revelation

Charity took flight, swooping down to retrieve the slain creature’s body. Yet as the party gathered around the fallen wolf, something disturbing occurred—it shifted, its form twisting and changing, until what lay before them was not a beast, but a dead man, his body riddled with wounds. The transformation sent a chill through the party—this had been no ordinary wolf, but a werewolf in disguise. Searching the corpse, they uncovered a manuscript penned by Dr. Rudolph van Richten, detailing his grim studies on werewolves and their terrible affliction.

Yet the horrors were not yet finished. Corax, having been bitten during the fight, felt an unnatural chill creep through his veins. Though he tried to shake it off, the creeping dread remained—he had failed to resist the werewolf’s curse. The party, aware of the dark possibilities ahead, made a grim decision: they dismembered the body of the werewolf and took its remains with them, unwilling to leave such a thing to fester in the wild.

Crossing Tser Falls Bridge & Meeting the Knight

Their path took them to the Tser Falls Bridge, an ancient structure spanning the chasm below. As the mist curled around them, a ghostly figure emerged—a spectral Knight of the Order of the Silver Dragon. The knight’s hollow eyes regarded them, and in a solemn voice, he spoke of Argynvostholt, the ruined keep of his fallen order. He spoke of duty, of betrayal, and of a great silver dragon whose light had been extinguished by Strahd’s hand. The party listened intently, the weight of Barovia’s forgotten past pressing upon them.

The Meeting with Morgantha

The road carried them further, to the Old Bonegrinder Mill, where they met a hunched old woman who introduced herself as Morgantha. She greeted them with a crooked smile, explaining that she had just returned from Vallaki, where she had been selling her famous Dream Pastries. With a grandmotherly air, she offered the party a taste of her wares.

Shaggilldorph and Corax each accepted a pastry, taking a bite. The sweet taste was warm and comforting, but what effects—if any—would come of this indulgence remained to be seen…

Ambushed at Lake Zarovich

As they pressed on, the party passed the dark waters of Lake Zarovich. The wind howled across the water, sending ripples over its eerily still surface. But the quiet did not last long.

From the trees, three wolves and two more werewolves in wolf form sprang from the shadows, launching another ambush. The scent of blood, the howls of beasts, and the moonlit glint of bared fangs set the stage for a battle yet to come…

And that, my dear adventurers, is where we left off.