Strahd Chapter 4: Fortune

Chapter 4: Fortune

Introductions

  • Malrosh, Tiefling sorcerer
  • Desunt Clariatis, Human Wild sorcerer
  • Redvus Dundonald, Gnome Cleric seeking enlightenment
  • Aslok, Dwarven Paladin who hates necromancers
  • Ismark and Ireena Kolyanovich, who we are escorting to safty

Leaving Daggerford we headed west taking the road toward Vallaki.  Our plans were to veer off through the foothills and cut across country rather than following the road all the way.  During our first couple of nights camping Redvus thought he could see animals watching us during the night and he let everyone know something seemed to be tracking us, perhaps whatever had left the claw marks on the front door of the house.

As night approched on the following night we stumbled upon a Vistani camp.  Their colourful caravans formed a circle around the fire.  Malrosh talked to Marina their leader and we were invited to join their evening celebration and make toasts to the Dread Lord Von Zarovich.  Part way through the night all six of us were invited to go and visit Madam Eva the groups leader.

The old woman said she knew what our true goals were and hoped we would success as Von Zarovich needs freeing from himself.  She performed a reading of the cards to help guide us in completing our daunting task.  Each of us placed one card on the table and Madame Eva added the final card and then told us the meaning for each.
  • Solider - I see a beauty woman kneeling or  praying; a rose of the Marshland. The master their knows of whom I speak.
  • Guild Member - A holy symbol of hope and protection you must meet the dead and make an offering to the ferryman.
  • Tax Collector - A lost sword of pure light in a place of sickness and madness. Where babies once cried, the treasure still lies.
  • Transmuter - I hear Wedding bells, or perhaps a death knell. Howls of madness at a mountainside abbey.
  • Trader - A creature of darkness your enemy must return to his tomb for dreamless slumber.
Then each of us got to draw a single card for a personal fortune.
  • Redvus drew the Beast representing great rage or passion; something malevolent hiding just below the surface.
  • Malroth drew the Conjurer representing an unexpected supernatural threat he needs to be wary of.
  • Desunt drew the Elementalist showing the triumph of nature over civilization. A natural disaster but also bountiful harvests.
  • Aslok drew the Artifact representing the importance of  an object that must be protected, or destroyed, at all costs.
Malroth then staying up dancing and drinking all night with the Vistani while the rest of us got plenty of sleep.  On the following morning their camp was silent, and Malroth seemed the worse for wear but we carried on our journey.  Later in the day we left the road and started to head west through the foothills.  It seemed this angered our pursued for that evening we were attacked by a pack of wolves led by a Dire Wolf!

Our battle was short and brutal.  Desunt's bolt of chaos magic blasted them with fire and acid while Aslok smashed bones with a warhammer as Redvus pushed the creatures away from the sorcerers and into combat with the Paladin who was protected by a shield of faith.  Malroth was savagely mauled but just managed to stay on his feet [2 Hit Points!] and finish off the wolf with a psionic blast.  Blooded and battered we finished our nights rest and felt we had more knowledge and skill for what lay ahead. [Welcome to level 4].



Image Credits: art from lulebel on deviantart

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