Recap
The party gathered at a goblin-run roadside inn, where two robed strangers checked in and left everyone unsettled @ 00:25:34–00:33:28. That night the whole party shared a prophetic nightmare of a vampire, a crying letter-writer, and a storm-wreathed castle @ 00:54:14. The next morning a letter arrived, signed by Kolyan Indirovich, Burgomaster of Barovia, pleading for help for his bitten daughter — alongside an unrelated dinner invitation from “the Baron” that led to the same place @ 01:07:29–01:28:52.
Forcing a goblin to guide them through the enchanted mists, the party found a dead villager carrying a forged copy of the plea letter, his wounds marked as a transformed human’s, not an animal’s @ 01:58:10–02:02:16. In the fog-bound village of Barovia they met its sole remaining priest, who revealed the Baron was the vampire terrorizing the land and gave them a map to Castle Ravenloft @ 02:09:38–02:18:39. At the Blood of the Vine tavern they met Ismark Indirovich, confirmed neither letter was his father’s real handwriting, and found his sister Irina twice-bitten by Strahd and refusing to be restrained; the family ordered the party off their property @ 02:32:48–03:07:21.
Sheltering overnight in the village church, the party watched harmless ghosts march toward the castle at midnight @ 03:24:44. The next day Madame Eva gave them a tarot reading — Death, a reversed card of conflict, and the Fool — plus a prophecy of “a tool of evil” protected by darkness @ 03:44:15–03:52:28. Choosing to approach by daylight rather than attend the night’s dinner, the party rode a mysterious black carriage to Castle Ravenloft, whose doors swung open on their own as organ music drifted out @ 04:10:50–04:36:16.
Key events
- A shared prophetic nightmare hits the whole party: a vampire, a crying letter-writer, a storm-wreathed castle @ 00:54:14.
- A page delivers Kolyan Indirovich’s plea for help, and the party realizes it shares directions with an unrelated dinner invitation from “the Baron” @ 01:06:39–01:28:52.
- Jake’s character forces a young goblin to guide the party through the magical mists around Barovia @ 01:17:14.
- The party finds a dead villager holding a forged copy of the plea letter, killed by what Donnie’s character identifies (natural 20) as a transformed human, not an animal @ 01:58:10–01:59:09.
- The village priest reveals the Baron is the vampire Strahd and gives the party a map to the castle @ 02:15:24–02:18:39.
- The party meets Ismark Indirovich and finds Irina bitten twice by Strahd, with no reflection; she and Ismark refuse restraint and order the party out @ 02:52:37–03:07:21.
- Ghosts rise from the churchyard at midnight and walk harmlessly toward the castle @ 03:24:44.
- Madame Eva gives the party a tarot reading and a prophecy about “a tool of evil” @ 03:44:15–03:52:28.
- A driverless black carriage carries the party to Castle Ravenloft, whose doors open on their own as the session ends @ 04:12:35–04:34:13.
Entities referenced
- NPCs: Strahd von Zarovich, Kolyan Indirovich, Ismark Indirovich, Irina Indirovich, the unnamed village priest, Madame Eva
- Places: the roadside goblin inn, Svalich Woods, Village of Barovia, the Indirovich estate, the village church, the gypsy encampment, Castle Ravenloft
- Items: Ion Stone, Aegis of Recovery, Scabbard of Keen Edges, the Shadow Well, the forged plea letter, the map to Castle Ravenloft
- Quests: Rescue the Burgomaster’s Family (started), Find the Tool of Evil (started)