Tracking the Clues - Session 27

Day 17 - Morning

  Yesterday, the party was planning a trip to Krezk with Ireena Kolyana and Ismark Kolyanovich when a dusk elf, named Rahadin, delivered a hand-written invitation to dinner from the Lady Countess Strahd Von Zarovich. After debating the situation, the party went to dinner at Castle Ravenloft. Upon entering the dining room, Strahd murdered Lady Fiona Wachter, then made pleasant conversation until dismissing the party by biting Nazgog's neck. The party was then ferried back to Vallaki by Rahadin.
  This morning, the party takes their time rising and pack the wedding dress before they meet in their kitchen. After a quick bite to eat, they head to The Blue Water Inn where they gather Ireena and Ismark and then leave town via the West Gate.
  They follow the Old Svalich Road westward for several hours, before entering the town of Krezk. Bringing Ireena and Ismark along, they travel up the winding road leading to the abbey, when a single ray of sun peeks through the cloud cover glinting off the small pond against the north wall of Krezk. The burst of sunlight draws Ireena's attention as she asks, "What is that lake. Can we go see it?"
  Fidelia says, "Wouldn't you rather hurry on to the abbey?"
  "No," Ireena replies, "I feel drawn to that lake. Do you know its name?"
  Morgana immediately asks, "Drawn!? What do you mean drawn to it?"
  Dreamlike, Ireena says, "It's calling to me. Can we go see it?"
  Morgana and Nazgog lock eyes before Morgana says, "I'm not sure that's a good idea, but we might as well."
  The party heads back down the winding road and then through the trees and houses of Krezk. The trees open up and the party sees the pool shimmering and sparkling even under the cloudy gray sky. Near the shore, an old gazebo sways in the light wind, seemingly ready to collapse. Standing within the gazebo, a statue, with chipped and faded paint, depicts a mournful, bare-chested man with his arms outstretched almost as if he waits for an embrace.
  Morgana studies the statue before stating, "I believe this is the Morninglord. The god of the east. See how he stretches toward the east almost as if welcoming the sun?"
  Ireena seems distracted as she starts walking toward the pool. As she nears it, everyone sees an image of a handsome youth appear within the water. Upon seeing Ireena, his saddened face lights up with joy as he says, "Tatyana! It has been so long. Come, my love. Let us be together at last." A hand reaches out from the water toward Ireena.
  Walking into the pool, Ireena reaches forth to hold his watery hand as both Nazgog and Morgana yank her back to land.
  As their bodies thump onto dry land, a peal of thunder shakes the land as the grey clouds darken and coalesce into a terrible visage. A dark voice echoes throughout the sky, "She is MINE!" as a bolt of lightning splits the sky and strikes the pool spreading across it and knocking Fidelia to the ground.
  As the clouds return to normal, Ireena gasps in shock, "It is true. I am Tatyana. How is it that I could not remember myself?"
  Morgana and Nazgog carefully lead her away and the party travels back up the mountain to the abbey.
  As the group enters the abbey's courtyard, the Abbot comes out of the main hall and greets them, "Welcome back. I am pleased you have safely returned. Have you brought the wedding dress as I requested?'
  Morgana responds, "Before we get to that, we were just at the pool down below when lightning struck it. Can you tell us what it is?"
  The Abbot nods as he answers, "The residents of Krezk refer to it as the Shrine of the White Sun, though none know why. From my studies, the shrine next to it is dedicated to the Morninglord. The pool is fed by a spring and has always been pleasant and refreshing to drink. There are even some that claim it will restore your soul upon the first sweet taste. Alas, I know not the truth of these matters. Shall we head inside?"
  Upon entering the Main Hall, the Abbot turns greets Vasilka, "My dear, we have guests today and perhaps for some days ahead. You remember the little party we had a few days ago? Well they are back and they brought with them two more friends and hopefully a dress for you as a gift." He then turns toward Morgana, "And did you bring it as I requested?"
  Morgana nods as Fidelia pulls the wedding dress from her backpack and says, "Yes. We brought a fine wedding dress for a beautiful bride to be. Here it is."
  As the Abbot takes the dress, he says, "You have done me a fine deed and I wish to return the favor. I have the ability to return a life to a recently deceased and I am prepared to do this three times for you. Please call upon me in your need."
  Fidelia nods and responds, "As it happens we already have need of such an ability. The Burgomaster of Krezk lost his youngest son right about a week ago and he is now the last of his line. Can you come with us and grant life back to his son?"
  Somberly the abbot nods as he replies, "If it be only a week past, then yes my spirit shall rise him. If it be nigh on two, then my powers may fail. But let us delay no longer." He then stands upright and leads the party down the winding road and directly to the burgomaster's yard where he examines the line of graves.
  While the Abbot determines the grave of young Ilya, the Burgomaster's youngest son, Fidelia knocks on the cottage's door. A moment passes before the Burgomaster answers, "You have news for me?"
  Fidelia responds, "We've brought the Abbot who says he can bring life back to your son. He's by the graves now. Will you come?"
  As the Burgomaster and Fidelia reach the graves, the Abbot is already holding forth a sizeable diamond while chanting an old unknown language. As the air begins to crackle with mystic energy, the diamond begins shrinking, slowly and then with gaining rapidity. Finally the diamond disappears completely as the Abbot falls silent.
  A moment passes, then another and the grave remains undisturbed. Suddenly, a young hand punches up through the dirt and the party scrambles to clear the grave. A young male sits up weakly as the Burgomaster sweeps him into his arms, crying out, "My son lives!"
  Upon hearing this cry, the Burgomaster's wife comes rushing out of the cottage and sweeps both of the men into a giant hug. The Abbot smiles while stating, "This was good. I forget how simple deeds like this matter. Shall we retire and have dinner? "
  The party follows the Abbot back to the Abbey of St Markowitz where they spend the night.
 

Day 18 - Morning

  In the morning, Morgana asks Ireena, "So you have your memory now. Do you know who Izek is? How he relates to you?"
  Ireena shakes her head while responding, "I don't remember my childhood any more today than last week, but now I have all of Tatyana's memories and Ireena is more a stranger than ever." She pauses in thought, before continuing, "Strahd has no concept of love. She only knows obsession and selfishness. She will be quite angry with you now because of me."
  The party then decides to find Ezmerlada d'Avenir's wagon on the shores of Lake Baratok and leaves the abbey and Krezk behind by following the Old Svalich road back eastward. Upon reaching the Raven River crossroads, the group turns left onto a dirt trail with the trees fiercly encroaching upon the trail. After following this byway for a half hour, the trail open to the left.
  Heading that direction, the trees recede and the party looks upon a cold mountain lake enclosed by misty woods and rocky bluffs with thick fog rolling just above the still dark water. The trail ends at a grass covered causeway that stretches out to the middle of lake where a stone tower rises from a marshy island. Scaffolding climbs one side of the broken and leaning tower. Parked in front of the tower is a barrel topped wagon spattered with mud.
  Jagger approaches the wagon attempting to peer into windows as Fidelia warns, "Don't forget Ezmerelda did say it was trapped." Nodding his head, Jagger continues to look, but remains very careful to not actually touch the wagon. After a few moments, with a shrug of his shoulders, he turns away from it and says, "Maybe it's best to just not mess with it. She clearly isn't here. Let's see if we can get into the tower."
  "Already there," shouts Sticky who is on the backside of the tower examing it. As he comes around to the side with scaffolding, he looks up and notices a large crack in the wall where several stones and fallen free. "If need be, maybe we can get in by climbing this here, but has anyone tried the door yet?"
  "No handle!" yells Nazgog, "But funny door knocker. Little stick figures.. Seem to dance. Maybe it be fun to do." Nazgog then traces a line from one stick figure to another repeating the arms and legs of the character. Upon reaching the line's end, the door silently swings open revealing a flagstone floor strewn with debris. Nazgog heads into the round room and sees four stone statues each holding a rope. As she gets to the center of the room, the golems heave on the ropes and lifts Nazgog upward on a five foot square slab. The ropes jerk and left as each of the golems pull downward, then it pauses as they reach upward to grab a new section and pull again. As Nazgog gets lifted to the second floor, she tests the rickety looking floor with a heavy foot and recoils as that section of flooring tumbles to the ground below. After several moments, she gets lifted to the fourth floor that looks remarkable well kept and clean compared to the prior floors. Searching the room, Nazgog sees a shiny set of armor and a chest against the walls. Opening the chest reveals a reveals a severed human head that based on make-up appears to be a Vistani male. Nazgog then takes the elevator back to the floor where she shows the head to the party who stash it away.
  "Not much up there," Nazgog says. "This place boring. Where else do we go?"
  Jagger responds, "Well we did get told to go to Argynvostholt, whereever that is from here."
  The party leaves the tower, wagon, and lake behind as they continue on the dirt path they followed to get here. An hour or two later and they arrive at the Luna River Crossing and head southward past the Old Svalich road. The road continues for about a mile before turning into a dirt path following along the banks of the river. After another two hours the dirt path tunrs into a spongy marshy mess and swarms of flying things buzz around the party. Across the river, the party sees a dark ring of stones with a light flashing in the middle. Jagger shudders and says, "Screw this! Getting bit by something in this land? No way in hell." He then turns around and heads back northward calling behind, "Are you coming?"
  The party mills for just a moment or two then decide that whatever is here can wait for a different day and rejoin with Jagger heading north. Reaching the Luna River Crossroads again, the party turns left and find the correct spur roughly an hour later following it back east. Slowly the party ascends the mountain until reaching a promontory where an old sepulchral mansion capped with turrets and battlements. The dark low fog obscure that a third of the structure has collapsed and lies in ruins. Following the road toward the wide double doors, a tall statue emerges rising out of the mists. As the air clears, the paty sees a ten foot high by ten foot wide dragon gain features. Finally, as the party moves past it, Morgana indetifies it, "Silvered. Said to be noble and honorable."
  The party pauses a moment at the foot of a wide staircase before slowly ascending. As they step upward, the dragon statue exhales sixty foot cone of cold air. Morgana smiles as she exclaims, "We've been declared worthy!"
  Reaching the top of the stairs, the party approaches two tall iron-bound doors. As Sticky moves to inspect them, Morgana steps forward and pushes the doors open revealing a large dark hallway ahead, turning toward the party, she says, "We've been deemed worthy." as she then steps into sixty foot long room with a large tapestry hanging above the grand staircase at the end. The group walks the length of the grand entry passing between two sets of stone pillars and noting that there are six doors leading out of this room. Upon reaching the stairs, they climb to the first landing and notice that the tapestry is torn, faded, but depicts a noble looking gentleman.
  Coming back down the stairs, the party starts their methodical search by opening the door closest to the entrance on the right. The room beyond is in ruins with rubble strewn across the length of it and the far wall mostly collapsed with giant spiders making their home amongst the remains. Closing the door quickly, the party switches to the opposite side of the grand hall.
  Opening this door reveals a wood paneled den whose furniture has been tossed around. On the left, a cold dark hearth dominates the wall between two windows. Across the room, a black sarcophagus stands upright against the wall. As the party splits up to search the room, Fidelia approaches the hearth when a fire spontaneously erupts forth. The fire forms into the shape of dragon as it hisses and cracks and pops. Anticipating an attack, everyone readies their weapons. The seconds tick as the fire crackles and pops, then fire dragon hisses, "My knights have fallen into darkness. Save them if you can. Show them the light that they have lost." As the fire disappears, the party relaxes and resumes their search.
  Sticky calls out from the east wall, "I've found a hidden door over here." Pushing it open he moves into a dark moldy room cramped with barrels stacked against the walls. As the party searches the room, they find a wounded dusk elf, named Savid, hiding behind a barrel, Morgana immediately calls upon Celestian to provide health. Breathing with relief, Savid thanks her, "My thanks upon you. I was searching the woods for a young Vistani girl when I was best upon by these crazy plant things that burst needles at me. I've been hiding in here for days waiting for them to find me."
  Morgana responds that they have saved Arabelle and that it is safe to return to the camp outside Vallaki, then Savid says, "Usually, everyone avoids this mansion, because it was home to a Silver Dragon named Argynvost. Back during the war with Lady Strahd, he led a group of knights as the leader of the Order Of the Silver Dragon. Eventually Strahd's armies destroyed that order and sacked this mansion. It is said that the dragon's ghost prowls these halls to this day. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving here before I come face to face with him."
  After Savid heads back to Vallaki, the group continues to explore the house. They quickly pass through a kitchen, then servant quarters, then move along a balcony outside into a parlor in a turret, before finding themselves back in the den. Moving back through the great hall, they come into a room with a twenty foot long ornate dining table whose legs are carved like dragons. A flame with no source flickers with a soft white light revealing two life-like statues of knights with dragon