010_20260801 Session 10

# [[010_20260801 Session 10|Session 10]] ## Session Summary > [!tldr] [[010_20260801 Session 10|Session 10]] > The Gang escaped Durst Manor with new answers—and returned to find Barovia on the brink of siege. Forced into a desperate negotiation with Strahd’s servants, they survived the night, but not without consequences that would send them looking beyond the village for their next move.^summary ## Log ## Scene 1: Finishing the Fight The Gang began the session exactly where they had left off: battered, low on resources, and still locked in combat with the [[shambling mound]] beneath [[Durst Manor]]. Before rejoining the fight, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] hurried to [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]]'s side and poured a healing potion down his throat, bringing him back to his feet. With [[The Durst Family#Walter Durst|Walter]] now safely out of the ritual circle, the Gang turned its full attention to the undead horror. The battle quickly became a desperate war of attrition. [[Zar]] held the creature at bay while [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] darted in to carve away its bony mass whenever an opening presented itself. From a safer distance, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] continued pelting the mound with cantrips, while [[The Durst Family|Nynka]] phased into the creature and tore at it from within. At last, the mound began shedding bones faster than it could hold itself together. The Gang's combined assault finally brought the construct crashing into the flooded floor. As the chamber fell silent, the party took stock of the aftermath. [[The Durst Family|Walter]] was safe. [[The Durst Family|Gustav and Elizabeta]] were dead. The gemstone had been recovered. Not every enemy had fallen, however. The two cultists [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] had lured away from the ritual still hung from the rusty hooks overhead. With the rest of the cult likely to discover the truth before long, the Gang knew they had little time to catch their breath. ## Scene 2: Questions in the Dark With the shambling mound defeated, the Gang finally had a chance to examine the aftermath and figure out how they were going to escape [[Durst Manor]]. Their first thought was to question the two cultists still hanging from the ritual hooks. Before they could get very far, however, a familiar voice called out from the reliquary. It was [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]], the severed halfling head the Gang had discovered among the cult's relics. As [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] made introductions, [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] revealed that: - [[The Durst Family|The Dursts]] had apparently acquired him after raiding [[Rictavio Van Richten|Van Richten]]'s camp. - The rest of his body was somewhere in [[Elturel, the Holy City|Elturel]]. - He recognized the Gang from their [[Win at bull-jumping|success at bull-jumping]] shortly after entering [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]]. - [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] had [[Who was the arsonist behind the fire at the Carnival|started the fire]] during that encounter as a distraction so [[Rictavio Van Richten|Van Richten]] could cross through the mists with the caravan. - "[[Rictavio Van Richten|Rictavio]]" was an alias: [[Rictavio Van Richten|Van Richten]] was the vampire hunter's true name. - [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] had been working with his companion [[Mahiji]] to smuggle [[Rictavio Van Richten|Van Richten]] and his creatures into [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]]. - [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] and [[Mahiji]] were themselves **smugglers**, accustomed to bringing forbidden goods into [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] with [[Vistani]] caravans. - The increasing number of outsiders managing to pierce the mists worried him. Between [[Mordenkainen|the Mad Mage]], [[Rictavio Van Richten|Van Richten]], and now the Gang, [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] believed [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] was heading toward unusually chaotic times. While the conversation continued, [[Zar]] began gathering whatever could be carried from the reliquary. [[Andraste Amo|Andi]], meanwhile, discovered a more immediate problem: [[The Durst Family|Walter]] had been crying through much of the aftermath. Her solution was cheese. Despite [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]]'s entirely reasonable objection that [[The Durst Family|Walter]] might not yet eat solid food, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] successfully persuaded the toothless infant to suck on a piece long enough to quiet him. She then asked [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] whether he would mind sharing a bag with [[Piccolo]] while everyone packed up. Having relatively few alternatives, [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]] agreed. The Gang still needed answers about the ritual itself. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] approached the two cultists hanging from the hooks and proposed a simple arrangement: he would question them separately, and if their answers did not match, they would begin losing body parts. The first cultist, Emeric, was understandably cooperative. ![[010_20260801 Session 10-1786084230308.webp|right|257]]From him, the Gang learned that the gemstone recovered from the altar was the [[philosopher's stone|Rubedo Stone]], stolen from the [[Stafania Martikova|Martikovs]] and used in the ritual to allow "new blood to resurrect the old blood." [[The Durst Family#Walter Durst|Walter]] was to be sacrificed to restore [[The Durst Family#Claudia and Balthazar Durst|Balthazar and Claudia Durst]], the founders of the cult whose bodies had been removed from the family crypts. Emeric also explained that the cult believed [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] was approaching the fulfillment of his purpose: reunion with his long-lost lover, after which [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] would finally open to the outside world. The cult had many cells, and its members had lately been calling themselves the [[Ba'al Verzi]], followers of [[Strahd von Zarovich|the devil]], with ties to [[The Wachter Family|the Wachters]]. When [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] pressed him more aggressively about the gemstone, Emeric described it as more than a tool for making wine. It accelerated transformations and alchemical processes: fermenting, putrefying, healing, and driving substances toward what he called their ultimate form. This was also how the Martikovs could grow grapes and produce wine despite Barovia's hostile soil. ^Rubedo The hooks themselves were also part of the ritual. Emeric claimed the cultists intended to be "resurrected" from their imperfect living bodies into superior forms like the zombies gathering in the woods. When [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] pointed out that they were already alive, Emeric saw no contradiction. The Gang ultimately confirmed that both prisoners gave matching accounts. Neither knew of another route out of [[Durst Manor|the manor]], and Emeric knew little about the other gemstones beyond believing that the [[Stafania Martikova|Martikovs]] still possessed at least one. With their questions answered and the surviving cultists unlikely to offer anything more useful, the Gang began preparing their escape. ## Scene 3: Escape from Durst Manor With their questions answered, the Gang stripped the surviving cultists of their robes and hoods before executing them. Since [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] was already disguised, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] and [[Zar]] donned Emeric's and "the other one's" remaining cultist cloaks as part of their plan to bluff their way back through the manor if necessary. The Gang's only way out led back through the manor itself. Thanks to a rope harness constructed by [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]], [[The Durst Family|Walter]] remained strapped securely to [[Andraste Amo|Andi]], who somehow managed to keep the infant content with a piece of cheese. The rescued halfling head, [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]], agreed to travel with the party as well. Having little choice in the matter, he was packed into a bag alongside [[Piccolo]] before the Gang made their escape. The Gang decided to use the hidden spiral staircase that connected the house's upper floors, then climb to the roof and descend by the rope they had left there during their initial infiltration. [[Zar]] took the lead, outpacing [[The Durst Family|Elizabeta Durst]] to the staircase before she and the remaining cultists could intercept them. As they climbed, the Gang grabbed one more of the manor's unsettling **scrying eyes** from a nearby room before continuing upward. ^loot Reaching the roof without incident, the party rappelled safely to the ground. Before following them, [[The Durst Family|Nynka]] remained behind, attempting to delay the pursuing cultists and buy the Gang more time. Outside the manor, they paused long enough to take stock of the situation. Roughly **thirty zombies** could be seen gathering around the edge of [[Barovia (Village)|the village of Barovia]], though none appeared to notice the escaping adventurers. Carrying [[The Durst Family#Walter Durst|Walter]], [[Talbot, the Halfling Head|Talbot]], the recovered **Rubedo Stone**, and everything else they had salvaged from the manor, the Gang hurried back to the [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|Church of St. Bogdan's]]. ## Scene 4: Take Me to Church The Gang returned to [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|St. Bogdan's]] to find it far busier than when they had left just that morning. Parishioners filled the sanctuary while others lingered outside, speaking quietly with [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] as anxious rumors spread through the village. The arrival of the Gang—and the infant in [[Andraste Amo|Andi]]'s arms—quickly drew everyone's attention. [[The Durst Family|Walter]] was finally safe. [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] gladly took the infant into his care, relieved that the Gang had reached him before [[The Durst Family|the Dursts]] could complete their ritual. Before handing [[The Durst Family|Walter]] over, [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] made the priest promise that if [[Morganta, Dream Pastry Lady|an old woman selling pastries]] ever came asking for the child, she was to be turned away without question. The Gang then kept the promise they had made to [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]]. ![[DoruIrina.png|right|276]] At [[Andraste Amo|Andi]]'s insistence, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] finally brought her to see [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]. Though imprisoned beneath the church, he immediately recognized his old friend. Instead of the ravenous monster everyone feared, [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] found traces of the young man she remembered. [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] calmed at her voice and quietly leaned into her touch, giving everyone present reason to believe he might still be saved. The reunion naturally turned the conversation toward how [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] might be saved. [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] and [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] recognized the references to [[Khazan]] and discussed where he might once have lived. The best lead they could offer pointed toward [[Stoya]], giving the Gang its first concrete direction for the next stage of their journey. Unfortunately, they had little time to dwell on the hope of saving [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]. Reports from outside the church made it clear that the zombies surrounding the village were drawing ever closer. ## Scene 5: "Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls..." The respite inside the church proved short-lived. As preparations continued inside [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|St. Bogdan's]], the Gang found itself divided. With Walter safe, [[The Durst Family|the Dursts]] defeated, and a lead pointing toward [[Khazan]], [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] argued that they had already accomplished more than anyone could have expected. Remaining in the village would only place them in the middle of a battle that was not their own, and he urged the party to leave while they still could. [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] didn't understand. She was unwilling to abandon the town they had sworn to protect, the promise she had made to [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|Kolyan]], and the promise she had made to [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] at the first sight of danger (which was, in fact, their third or fourth instance of facing danger that day). Though the Gang now possessed a possible lead in [[Khazan]] and the [[Philosopher's Stone]], she refused to abandon [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]], [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]], or the town to [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s army. Before the party could settle the matter, a lone figure approached the church and requested an audience. It was the **Gallows Speaker**, the herald of Strahd whom they had seen earlier that day in the plaza with the Burgomaester. The envoy brought a single demand. [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] was to be surrendered to the forces surrounding the village. [[Zar]] calmly insisted that Irina had already fled, successfully diverting the conversation. As the discussion drew on, the Speaker's attention shifted to [[Zar]] himself. Recognizing the holy symbols adorning his armor, he identified them as the symbols of [[Jander Sunstar]]. When [[Zar]] denied being [[Jander Sunstar|Jander]]'s disciple (and partially succeeded in his second deception attempt), the Speaker dismissed the distinction. > "The armor makes no difference. The symbols make no difference. What I see is darkness. I see fear. It coils around your soul like a snake around a branch... You are already his. The only question is whether you will embrace it willingly, or whether it will consume you." Conceding that [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] was no longer in the church, the Gallows Speaker demanded [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] instead, claiming him as one of the [[Strahd von Zarovich|Dark Lord]]'s children. [[Zar]] appeared to relent. ## Scene 6: "...It Tolls for Doru" [[Zar]] returned to the church with little comfort to offer. The Gallows Speaker had accepted [[Zar]]'s claim that [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] was gone, but demanded [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] instead. [[Zar]] argued that handing him over offered the best chance of avoiding a battle the exhausted defenders might not survive. [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] was already changed, there was little they could do for him now, and if they lived long enough to find the [[Philosopher's Stone]], perhaps they could get him back later. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] agreed. [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] was beyond their ability to help for the moment, and refusing the bargain risked not only a hopeless fight but also exposing the fact that [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] was still inside the church. [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] refused to accept that conclusion. She couldn't fathom abandoning the people sheltering inside the church. In her mind, [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] was still salvageable—he had recognized [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]], and there was still something of him left to save. Plus, who could guarantee that sacrificing [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] would truly spare the village or whether [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s forces could be trusted to honor the bargain? They had already broken their agreement with [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] by coming for [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] a day early. When [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] asked [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] what she thought, [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] himself emerged from the basement, pale and shivering. [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] went immediately to his side, drew her sword, and made her position clear: they could fight or they could escape, but they were **not** giving [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] to the [[Strahd von Zarovich|the devil]]. [[Zar]] appealed to her again, pointing to the people who would die if the church were overrun. Even [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]], however, sided with [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]]. He had rescued his son from the battlefield once already and did not intend to lose him again. Then the church bell rang. [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] looked upward in confusion. There was nobody in the bell tower. With the clock quite literally ticking, the Gang searched for another answer. At [[Andraste Amo|Andi]]'s behest, [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] even attempted to remove the supernatural fear afflicting [[Zar]], but without success. [[Zar]] then turned to [[Ismark Kolyanovich|Ismark]], asking him to talk some sense into his sister. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] made the stakes considerably starker: unless [[Ismark Kolyanovich|Ismark]] could convince Irina to surrender [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]], they were all going to die. [[Ismark Kolyanovich|Ismark]] tried. After a quiet conversation with his sister, he returned disappointed. He wasn't getting her on board. From the bell tower, [[Daddy Longlegs]] discovered who was ringing the bell: the Gallows Speaker himself was preparing one final toll to signal the attack. Running out of alternatives, [[Zar]] finally addressed [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] directly. He told him that if he could understand anything at all, they needed his help: he needed to go outside with the waiting forces, or [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] would be taken. Something reached him. [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] looked fearfully between [[Zar]]'s holy symbols, [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]], his father, and the others. At the mention of keeping [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] safe, he seemed to have a flicker of comprehension. Then, without saying a word, [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] smashed through the church wall with his supernatural strength and ran. ## Scene 7: A Better Bargain With [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] gone, [[Zar]] immediately told [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] to get [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] out of sight and hurried back to the church doors. Calling the **Gallows Speaker** down from the bell tower, he tried to make the best of what had just happened. [[Zar]] claimed that they had tried to bring [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] out peacefully, only for him to panic, smash through the wall, and flee. The Gallows Speaker was not entirely satisfied. As far as he was concerned, the Gang had promised to surrender [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]], not let him escape, and he sent several zombies after the fleeing vampire. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] soon joined [[Zar]] at the church doors and backed him up. He argued that the Speaker was wasting both his time and [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s resources harassing civilians when his true quarry was elsewhere. The Gallows Speaker's many faces turned toward [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]]. There was a moment of recognition. He told [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] that he had been wondering when he would arrive and addressed him by name. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] denied knowing what he meant, but the Speaker merely assured him that they would have time to talk later. With [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] supposedly already on her way west, [[Zar]] offered the Speaker another reason to abandon the church: catching [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] would give [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s forces ample leverage to convince her to come willingly. The suggestion was enough. The Gallows Speaker declared their business finished and ordered the undead gathered around the church to disperse. The villagers were to dismantle their fortifications, while the church itself would be left alone. He also warned that the status of [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] would be reviewed. Then the Gallows Speaker and several of the zombies departed in pursuit of [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]]. The siege was over without a fight. ## Scene 8: After the Bell As the undead disappeared into the woods after [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]], the tension around [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|St. Bogdan's Church]] finally began to break. [[Zar]] congratulated [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] on helping talk their way out of the siege. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] returned the compliment, admitting that he had not initially been convinced they should stand their ground, but that [[Zar]]'s gamble appeared to have paid off. Meanwhile, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] and [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] remained together downstairs, crying over what had happened. [[Zar]] called [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] and [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]] inside. Although nobody had died and [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] had escaped rather than been captured, the people gathered in the church looked thoroughly defeated. [[Zar]] urged [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] not to treat the reprieve as a return to normalcy. He proposed putting the town into a state of emergency, reinforcing the church, concentrating the villagers' defenses around it, and sending guards back to [[Durst Manor]] to deal with any cultists who remained. [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|The Burgomaester]] needed little encouragement. The Gallows Speaker's threat to reconsider his position had made it clear that Strahd still had supporters within the village, including [[The Durst Family|the Dursts]]. Gathering his guards, he ordered them to the manor to arrest the remaining cultists and anyone known to have participated in their meetings. When he described the night's confrontation as a battle lost, [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] quickly corrected him: **it had been a draw.** The distinction apparently did wonders for morale. Downstairs, [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] and [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] had their own reconciliation. [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] finally sheathed her sword and apologized for the earlier standoff, explaining simply that she had not wanted her friend to come to harm. Worried about where [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] had gone, she was at least able to take some comfort from the fact that Doru had escaped rather than been taken, giving the Gang as much chance of finding him as [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s forces had. For the first time since the siege began, the Gang could turn its attention to a different question: **What now?** [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] suggested [[Vallaki]]—but with [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s undead now chasing [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] in that same direction, even that suddenly looked considerably less straightforward. ## Scene 9: What Now? The Gang finally allowed themselves a long rest. Guards remained around [[Barovia (Village)#Church of St. Bogdan (E5)|St. Bogdan's Church]] through the night, sleeping in improvised shelters and hammocks in the churchyard, while the townspeople who had spent the previous day building and repairing returned to their homes until morning. By breakfast, the crisis had given way to a different problem: deciding what came next. [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] would continue traveling with the Gang rather than being sent off on her own, but [Zar](Zar) had also managed to send the Gallows Speaker and his zombies toward [[Vallaki]]—the same direction the Gang had been considering. Over a simple breakfast with [[Father Dargos Donavich|Father Donavich]]—later supplemented by non-dream pastries brought by [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] and his servants—the group began sorting through their options. [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]], worried but more energized than she had been the previous day, suggested continuing toward [[Vallaki]] in search of information about [[Khazan]]'s tower. The Gang also remembered the man who had [[Protect Vito the Alchemist as he gathers herbs|previously asked for their help gathering herbs]] and considered whether they might meet him along the way. But [[Vallaki]] no longer seemed like an obviously safe destination. Irina pointed out that [[Barovia (Village)|the village]] would remain in danger as long as she stayed there, while the Gang was increasingly aware that they were being watched and could not hope to face [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] alone. When no one could settle on which of their many leads was most urgent, [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] offered another possibility: seek out [[Madam Eva]]. She was camped near a small lake along the [[River Ivlis]], and, according to him, she always knew what to do. It was as good a plan as any. The Gang briefly considered whether to remain in town for the planned celebration, but with [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]] still wanted and the need to keep a low profile, the idea was quickly abandoned. Before they could leave, however, another familiar face walked into the church. ## Scene 10: The Devil You Know The newcomer was [[Manfred]], a man the Gang had encountered before at the [[Blood of the Vine Tavern and Inn|Blood of the Vine]] and whom [[Zar]] recognized from his time near [[Stoya]]. [[Manfred]] strolled into St. Bogdan's as casually as if the village had not nearly been overrun the night before and announced that he had come to offer his support. His family and their mercenaries, he said, were at [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]]'s disposal. [[Zar]] was immediately wary, slowly reaching for his weapon as [[Manfred]] approached. When questioned about why he wanted to help, [[Manfred]] claimed that he was a native of [[Barovia (Village)|the village of Barovia]] and opposed [[Strahd von Zarovich|the devil Strahd]] like any good man should. [[Zar]] pressed him further, asking why he had previously seen him near [[Stoya]]. [[Manfred]] explained that he traveled extensively and operated a guard and escort service, protecting caravans, messengers, villages, and hamlets from the creatures roaming the countryside. When [[Zar]] asked whether those services also included **burning villages**, [[Manfred]] denied knowing what he was talking about. [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]] quietly tried to maneuver around [[Manfred]] to prevent him from simply escaping if the conversation turned ugly. [[Manfred]] noticed. Without openly confronting [[Erno Van Iche|Erno]], he casually shifted toward the enormous hole [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] had left in the church wall, moving with enough speed and ease to make clear that containing him would not be simple. [[Manfred]] described his operation more plainly as a **protection service**, complete with its own methods of collecting debts. He offered the same protection to [[Barovia (Village)|the village]]. [[Zar]] tried to judge whether the offer was genuine and found, at least, that [[Manfred]] appeared to believe what he was saying: Simply put, he and the Gang had a common enemy whom they could fight together, or Manfred's people could eventually win without them. Turning his attention to [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]], he warned that without their protection [[Barovia (Village)|the village]] would burn the next time the Gallows Speaker came to collect his sacrifices. [[Andraste Amo|Andi]] challenged him on that claim. If [[Manfred]] and his people were so capable, why had they not helped the [[Battle at the Gates|Mad Mage Rebellion]]? Why had they allowed so many of their fellow Barovians to die? [[Manfred]]'s answer revealed an important distinction. He and the Mad Mage might have shared an enemy, but they did not necessarily share a vision for what [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] should become after [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] was defeated. He had come to offer [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] a business arrangement, not to ally himself with the Gang. With that, he asked the Burgomaester to consider his invitation, stepped through the hole [[Doryan (Doru) Donavich|Doru]] had smashed in the church wall, and left. [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|Kolyan]] was visibly disturbed. He explained that [[Manfred]] was the head of a mercenary company that was also, as he understood it, some kind of cult. They believed [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]] was too weak to rule [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] and that they could replace him. Some smaller settlements already used their services, but [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] had deliberately kept his village self-sufficient. There was an uglier part to [[Manfred]]'s offer. The last time it had been made, the price had involved the same people [[Barovia (the Land of)|Barovia]] sometimes surrendered to [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]: rather than giving children and young people to feed [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]'s spawn, the village would give them to [[Manfred]]'s group instead. [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|Kolyan]] did not know what [[Manfred]] wanted them for, but he wanted no part of it. For the moment, the Gang had heard enough. ## Scene 11: Into the Marshes With [[Manfred]] gone and [[Kolyan Kolyanovich|the Burgomaester]] firmly rejecting his offer, the Gang returned to the plan of seeking out [[Madam Eva]]. They were reminded that they already had use of a large [[Vistani]]-style *vardo*, roomy enough to carry the Gang, their [[Pelor and Midnight|seals]], [[Irina Kolyanovich|Irina]], [[Piccolo]], and their supplies.![[010_20260801 Session 10-1787241939948.webp|right|200]] Before leaving [[Barovia (Village)|the village of Barovia]], however, they decided to make one last stop. At [[Bildrath Cantemir (and Periwimple)|Bildrath]]'s shop, the Gang worked through prices and tried not to spend themselves into poverty. They ultimately settled on additional healing supplies, some fresh armor for [[Zar]], and other necessities for the road ahead. Once preparations were finished, they turned their attention to the map. The main road would eventually fork, but there was another option: leave the road, cut through [[Marshes]], meet [[Vito and Reston]] at his camp, and then follow the [[River Ivlis]] toward [[Madam Eva]]'s encampment. The Gang chose [[Marshes]]. [[Vito and Reston]] was already somewhere out there, and they reasoned that if he was on their way, they might as well check on him—and perhaps help with whatever had been troubling him—before continuing toward [[Madam Eva]]. The session ended before they actually set out. Their next journey would begin with the road out of [[Barovia (Village)|the village]] and, if all went according to plan, carry them into [[Marshes]]. ## New Quests   - [[Something Big Is Coming...]]  ## Quests With Deadlines   | Quest | Deadline | Days Left | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | ----------------- | | [[Retrieve a stolen gem for Stafania Martikova]] | 0713-12-13 | 5.166666666666667 |  ## Time-Sensitive Quests   - [[Find Gertruda]] - [[Save Doru]] - [[Look for missing children in Stoya]] - [[Create a base of operations in Barovia]]  ## Social Calendar   | Event | Description | Date | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ---------- | | [[Siege of St. Bogdan's]] | \- | 0713-12-07 | | [[Irina's Birthday Party]] | \- | 0713-12-08 | | [[Wolf's Head Jamboree]] | \- | 0714-01-14 | | [[Ceremony at Yester Hill]] | \- | 0714-02-12 |