# [[The Twisting]] The **Twisting** is a Vistani coming-of-age ceremony in which a young Vistani drinks the blood of their **blood father** and gains a supernatural connection to [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]. The Gang witnessed [[Esmeralda the Conjurer|Esmeralda]]'s Twisting through the shared dream she created in [[015_20260911 Session 15|Session 15]]. ## The Ceremony According to Esmeralda: - All [[Vistani]] are born normally, regardless of their race. - The Twisting occurs when they come of age and formally join the tribe. - During the ritual, they drink the blood of their blood father. - The ritual creates the Vistani's particular connection to Strahd. - The powers or changes granted by the ritual vary from person to person. Known results of the Twisting include: - unusual physical strength - deformities - shapeshifting - other supernatural abilities ## Mistwalking Esmeralda received the rare gift of **mistwalking** during her Twisting. Mistwalking allows her to travel through the Mists surrounding [[Barovia]] and move between Barovia and places beyond it, including [[Elturel]]. Among the Vistani, this is considered an especially powerful and valuable gift. For Esmeralda, however, it also became a burden. Her ability made her responsible for guiding Vistani caravans into and out of Barovia to: - trade for goods unavailable within Barovia, - transport people through the Mists, and - kidnap outsiders and bring new souls into Strahd's realm. ## Esmeralda's Twisting Esmeralda underwent her Twisting at approximately **12 years old**, roughly 10–12 years before [[015_20260911 Session 15|Session 15]]. At the time, she was proud of the gift she received and believed that serving [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] was a duty to her family and tribe. Only after traveling beyond [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] did she begin to reject what the [[Vistani]] were doing in [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s service.