Strahd Chapter 5-6: Bones of a Saint

Chapter 5-6: Bones of a Saint

Introductions

• Malrosh, Tiefling sorcerer
• Redvus Dundonald, Gnome Cleric seeking enlightenment
• Aslok, Dwarven Paladin who hates necromancers
• Inarra, Human Wizard with no scruples out to make a quick profit
• Desunt Clariatis, Human Wild sorcerer

Our journeys end the city of Vallaki!  Once inside the city we headed to the Blue Water Inn where Ismark paid for rooms for three days as well as the 20 gold he had offered for the protective detail.  We offered to escort him and his sister to the church where she should be protected from vampire attack.

Unfortunately when we talked to Father Lucian Petrovich at St. Andral's Church it turned out the bones of the saint that protected the place had been stolen!  It was decided that Ireena was stay with us.  If we could not retrieve the bones then we would take her west to the Abbey of Saint Markovia, near the village of Krezk, where she may find protection.  As burgomaster Ismark had to return to Barovia and look after the rest of his village.  He went back to the inn to pack his bags while we investigated.

Malrosh had noticed Yeska, the altar boy, acting evasively when we had quested Father Lucian so we started our investigation questioning him.  He broke down quickly and told us he had let Milivoj the grounds keeper know the secret location of the bones just days before they were stolen.

Inarra used her powerful magics to cloud Milivoj's mind and convince him to tell us what had happened.  He had been paid by Henrik van der Voort, the local coffin maker, to steal the bones.  He had needed the money to buy food for his family. 

After giving Inarra time to study her book and recover some arcane power we set off to the find the coffin maker and retrieve the bones.

Arriving at the coffin makers shop we found the place all boarded up (which seemed rather strange).  Makrosh had noticed some birds that seemed to be following up.  Redvus and Inarra attempted to kill one with magical spells but it was surprising tough for a small bird and flew away having taken enough damage to fell an on Ox!

Unperturbed we headed around the back to look for a way in.  In the end Aslok started to chop the door down with her axe.  The alerted the occupants and as we entered through the ruined door a man came out to talk to us.  He refused to identify himself and we used the ruse that we were from the town council removing squatters from buildings and tied him up.  

We left Melrosh and Ireena to question him while the rest of us looked around.  As we went upstairs we got attacked by Vampires!  This looked like the end for everyone as they started to drain our lifeforce, healing whatever wounds we inflicted.  Then Desunt used magic to shatter two of the boarded up windows letting sunlight flood into the room.

This allowed us to deal with the first few vampires, climb out the window and run around to aid Malrosh who was fighting another one.  It seemed the binding were not tight enough as Henrik has escaped with Ireena chasing after him.   

Desunt continued to throw bolts of chaos magic at the windows smashing as many as possible and actually managing to set the building on fire.  As the interior began to fill with smoke Redvus used divination magic to focus on the bones and found they moving, as speed, away from the house!  We gave chase but were unable to reach the bones before they had got out of the city and headed into the forest.  We were able to find Henrik and take him back to the church.

Aslok and Redvus returned to the Blue Water Inn where Ismark was just about to leave.  Upon hearing about the battle he rushed to the church, fortunately his sister turned up there.  It seemed we ended up spending most of the day going around in a circle and would soon need to leave to reach the village of Krezk.

Image Credits: art from jasonengle on deviantart