005_20260619 Session 5

# [[005_20260619 Session 5|Session 5]] ## Session Summary > [!tldr] [[005_20260619 Session 5]] > Zar and Andi made introductions with Father Donovich at the Church of St. Bogdan's and discovered more information about the village and recent events ^summary --- ## Recap from Last Session ![[004_20260523 Session 4#^summary]] --- ## Log ### Scene 1: After a hearty breakfast, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] packed [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Rictavio#Piccolo|Piccolo]] into her bag, and left with [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/PCs/Zar|Zar]] to visit [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]], per [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Sister Olivenka Alastroi|Sister Olivenka]]'s wishes. ![[005_20260619 Session 5-1781919535193.webp|right|468]] Upon entering the church grounds, the demi-gang noted: - The church, both in its exterior and interior, was decorated with older iconography of the Church of Lathander back in [[Faerûn]]. - The church was drab, but [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/Locations/Barovia (the Land of)#The Mist|the mist]] was noticeably less dense. - While it is unusual to have a cemetery attached to a Church of Lathander back home, [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] does not seem to have the expansive pantheon of [[Faerûn]]. #### Inside the Chapel The interior was in considerable disrepair. ![[005_20260619 Session 5-1781922790912.webp|right|300]] There was no priest but a handful of parishioners. The adults were all blank and sad as expected, but the children were running around. (Possibly, [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]]'s mass depression may be a learned state of mind, not one that follows you from previous lives.) While [[Zar]] assessed the church for its suitability as a future stronghold, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] wanted to make friends with someone who might answer her growing list of questions about Barovia. In an effort to attract wanted attention without being too obtrusive (which in hindsight was insane; these people have no initiative), she magically mended a bench and encouraged the children (who had already begun) to play on it. Surprisingly, one woman approached her. After touching the repaired bench (not in disbelief--it seemed more like she had forgotten that things can be fixed at all) and muttering about the eternal cycle of rebirth into suffering, the woman sat on the bench and stared at the [[Morninglord (Temple)|Morninglord]]'s sun above the altar. During their conversation, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] finally emerged from the undercroft (which was great timing because [[Zar]] was about to head down there and look for him), and introduced himself. [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] moved the conversation outside, for privacy. #### In the Cemetery The cemetery at the [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|Church of St. Bogdan's]] has been part of the church for over 500 years. It has a large section of graves that all appeared less than a year old. - Before her needlessly convoluted explanation, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] was initially apprehensive of [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] (who, in an effort to ingratiate herself to him, said she loved cemeteries). It turns out that he was afraid she might be a vampire or vampire-adjacent. #foreshadowing - When the demi-gang told him that [[Sister Olivenka Alastroi|Sister Olivenka]] had sent them, he was distraught to hear that she had [[People of the Woods|gone to the Woods]], but took some consolation in the fact that she had directed these newcomers to him. - He immediately clocked the symbol of the [[Morninglord (Temple)|Morninglord]] on [[Zar]]'s armor, and informed them that a [[Jander Sunstar|Stranger]] had promised to send help when he visited [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] 30 years ago (90 years ago in the [[Faerûn|Faerûnian]] calendar, around the time of the installment of the Gift of Amauntor and the establishment of the [[Hellriders]]). [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] has interpreted [[Zar]]'s arrival as the fulfilment of this promise. - When asked about the newer graves, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] told the story of the [[Battle at the Gates]], where the youths of [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]]—including [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Father Donavich's own son, "Doru"]]—were emboldened to take the fight to [[Castle Ravenloft]] and perished. This movement was led by a "Mad Mage," who turned out to be the famous inventor of spells and planeswalker, [[Mordenkainen]]. Due to this recent tragedy, [[Zar]] and [[Andi]] were cautioned against attempting to recruit townsfolk for bold expeditions that place any locals in danger. - To lighten the mood, Andi introduced [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] to [[Rictavio#Piccolo|Piccolo]] (which didn't really work) and asked about [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/Events/Irina's Birthday Party|Irina's Birthday Party]]. The topic of [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] brought some light to his face, and they learned a great deal about her, including the fact that she was [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]'s best friend. #### The Undercroft When [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] excused himself, leaving the demi-gang at the cemetery, [[Zar]] and [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] followed him to the undercroft, armed with the pretense of looking for the party decorations he promised to lend them. They discovered [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] feeding [[CoS 2026/Collective Wisdom/NPCs/Doryan (Doru) Donavich|his son]], now a vampire spawn, blood sausages, which would sustain him but keep him less potent. After [[Zar]] strongly suggested to him that [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] would need to be put down, the gang reconsidered that compromising with the father was the more practical option: - (Investigation) Zar noticed that the chains holding [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] in his cell were, in fact, too weak to hold a vampire spawn, however enfeebled by hunger. - (Insight) Andi felt that despite Father Donavich's reassurances that he would comply with Zar's wishes "tomorrow," he would not willingly part with his son. On the other hand, [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] was indifferent to (if not insulted by) granola, which concerned [[Andi]]. #### Doru's Bedroom When [[Andraste Amo|Andi]]--who apparently conflates fact with fiction--earnestly gave [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] her mangled copy of [[Books in the Alastroi Home#**Death's Kiss: The Romance of Tatyana**|Death's Kiss]] as containing justification for believing in a cure for vampirism, Father Donavich brought the Gangsters to [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]'s bedroom. It was tidy, as one might leave a room to give off the impression that nothing was amiss. From there he gave [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] a much more valuable book: [[Mordenkainen]]'s *Book of Foes*. In it, the great wizard included a section (vigorously annotated by [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]) about the mechanisms of vampires, means of defeating them, and potential cures for vampirism. Among the cures was a [[Khazan#Philosopher's Stone|philosopher's stone]], which Andi recalled from a book about another wizard. If one existed in Barovia, it would be the one crafted by a local legend, the wild dwarf mage [[Khazan]]. #### Back in the Chapel Again Persuaded that the Gang would help him save his son, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] returned to the chapel with a tinge of renewed hope, telling his parishioners that "Sadness can be overcome." ![[Session 5 - Zarb.png|right|450]]Perhaps to capitalize on this, or perhaps to demonstrate his full support, [[Zar]] healed [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] as he had [[Sister Olivenka Alastroi|Sister Olivenka]], and created a PR moment by casting Light as he did so. [[Andraste Amo|Andi]], wasting no opportunities to enhance a spectacle, created a Minor Illusion. Glittering light streamed in through the windows of the church, as if blessing the paladin and the priest before the congregation. ### Scene 2: Back to the Bar #### Music In hopes of recruiting [[Collum the Sad Flautist]] for Irina's party, the demi-Gang headed back to the [[Blood of the Vine Tavern and Inn|Blood of the Vine]]. They found him there, not playing his emo tunes, but drinking. At eleven in the morning. After asking to hear some peppier tunes than his normal repertoire, they offered him the gig. [[Collum the Sad Flautist|Collum]] said he would bring additional musicians, as he was eager to play at a venue with such prestigious guests and high promotional value (a.k.a. very little compensation). #### Sales and Snails ![[005_20260619 Session 5-1782455713736.webp|right|200]]While asking [[Blood of the Vine Tavern and Inn#Arik|Arik]] for some information about the legend of the [[Khazan#Philosopher's Stone|philosopher's stone]], [[Zar]] and [[Andi]] were overheard by [[Vito]], who began overhyping his Alekspeedwell Flower for the Gang's transportation problems or Reston's cure-alls as more accessible alternatives to the mythical stone. When Andi tried to get the Gang hired to procure ingredients instead, he directed them to his partner, the alchemist [[Reston]]. Reston welcomed their help, not for collecting herbs, but for protection while he worked near [[The Marshes]], by the Ilvis river. He would be embarking on another trip "in a few days," and would welcome the help. As [[Andi]] noted to [[Rictavio#Piccolo|Piccolo]], it was the first time [[Zar]] took a job without bargaining for higher pay, which she took as a great sign. Of additional interest, Reston mentioned his own mode of transportation, Marta the Giant Snail. He claimed she was very fast and that other Giant Snails could be found in [[The Marshes]]. (See quest: [[Find a ride via the Burgomaester]].) ### Scene 3: The Burgomaester's Mansion All morning, on their stroll through the village of Barovia, [[Zar]] and [[Andi]] had seen houses ranging from old to decrepit. But as they approached the [[Barovia (Village)#Burgomaester's Mansion (E4)|Burgomaester's mansion]], the house felt grand, not for its size or lavish exterior but because it was actually maintained. They were greeted at the front door by [[Ismark Kolyanovich|Ismark]] and his father, Kolyan. Kolyan... Kolyanovich. Upon his request, they informed him that they had arrived through the help of [[Madam Eva]]. Though initially concerned about revealing their connection to the [[Vistani]], they soon learned that [[Kolyan]] feels a kinship to the [[Vistani]] as his adopted mother was a *[[Vistani|skurra]]*. Several times, he also mentioned that he never second-guesses the judgment of [[Madam Eva]]. When he discovered the gang's plans to establish a base of operations in Barovia Village, he asked for their help later that afternoon. He would be attending a routine appointment in [[Barovia (Village)#Ismark Plaza|Ismark Plaza]], where he wished the gang to eavesdrop on a conversation with envoys of [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]].    # ## New Quests - [[Accompany Reston the Alchemist to the marshes to protect him as he gathers herbs]] #todo @{2026-06-19} - [[Protect Reston the Alchemist as he gathers herbs]] #Marshes #todo @{2026-06-19} - [[Save Doru]] #BaroviaVIllage #Marshes #Stoya #todo @{2026-06-19}    # ## All Quests with Deadlines - [[Retrieve a stolen gem for Stafania Martikova]] @{2026-05-20} #todo #deadline - [[Fight in Lazarus's cage match]] #todo #deadline @{2026-05-20} - [[Retrieve a stolen gem for Stafania Martikova]] #BaroviaVIllage @{2026-05-20} #todo #deadline - [[Fight in Lazarus's cage match]] #BaroviaVIllage #todo #deadline @{2026-05-20}