Session #5: First encounter with a Vampire

[istainion]

03 November, 2020  [7:00 PM - 11:00 PM+ (GMT+1)]

 

Yes, so I took a bite from the food until it began to shift its shape to something questionable. No one is seeing it! Is it my sanity playing tricks on me? Everyone is eating and enjoying this food and I get the feeling that its mocking me! You should have seen how it looked at me! As if I'll trust any more of this food ... It'll probably transform into dirt the moment this illusion loses shape! Much like it did with the mansion before this!

 

I have asked Ismark about the Durst family but it didn't ring a bell, other than that they have passed away for a long, long time already. Which I believe is odd, aren't they rather close to the village? Why are they only ruins now? Well, I guess in these tough times they do have their priorities. There is not much left of what once was a village of which he is in charge of, as son of Koiyan Indirovich.

 

Tomorrow, a task awaits us and it's not going to be pleasant. We were requested to help Ireena and Ismark to move their father's coffin to the Church to bury him nearby. We have also addressed the case with Donavich, his son, Doru, who has been inflicted with the undead and has been screaming for "food". We told Ismark that he is restlessly praying for his son to turn back to normal with no avail. And neither did Ireena know anything about how to help him other than to end his suffering. But it got late and our discussion is postponed for tomorrow. We headed upstairs and were assigned two rooms to use for our stay. One of the rooms had two beds and the other had three of them. So we needed to split up, and I guess you already know how it went. Shevat and Naedithas were quick to claim the private one for just the two of them. I gave them my blessings, I simply could not resist that urge to support them like I did. They make such a cute pair, don't they? Hahaaaa ...

 

So the rest of us took the second room. The first thing I did was to look for anything creepy and when I thought I saw everything, there was a creepy crawler on the ceiling! An enormous, black spider! I yelled at Tibirin to take care of it! He has been slamming those ghoul things with no issue, I bet an itsy bitsy spider like this wouldn't harm the guy either! I hope he doesn't bite ... So when Tibirin stood eye and eye with it, he claimed that it was a harmless little spider. ARE YOU INSANE?! IT'S THE SIZE OF MY HAND PALM! ... So I told him that I would yell if it were to land anywhere NEAR me if he doesn't get rid of it now.

 

Tibirin returned a sigh and reached out to the spider and let him out through the window. I would have thought that he would just smack it but ... Looks like he's softer than I had expected ... Finally, I could lay myself onto the bed ... After those nights outside, I could really use something soft for my back again ... Without the wind around or any annoying insects to crawl inside my sleeping bag.

 

THE NEXT DAY ...

 

So when I woke up from the knocking on the door and a call for breakfast, I left the bed and head downstairs with the others. This time, the breakfast looked a lot more friendly. It was freshly baked bread with butter and how can I say no to that welcoming smell? Ah, that's such a relief. So we sat down around the table when suddenly Naedithas spoke up to me. He noticed that I wasn't very talkative as I usually was. What? Just because he doesn't speak a lot, doesn't mean I am talkative! So I told him that he should make up for it and talk more instead and it PISSED him off, haha! He has warned me not to anger him, but honestly, I would love to see a little more reaction from him. And I didn't suppress telling him that either. Of course he fell silent and avoided eye contact again. Aw, so pouty ... I'd pull his cheeks if he wasn't such a damned giant, like all the others! ...

 

So before we would head out, we were asked if we had any more questions besides the topics we have previously discussed. I felt forced to ask them about Strahd. About how he looks, so that we know what we are facing when he suddenly pops up for a neck snack. We were provided with an ... Interesting description. The first thing that Ismark would mention is that he was handsome. Uhh ... Ismark? Then this sinister atmosphere for when he is near. He took note of his long, black hair which he usually has combed to the back paired with his dark eyes. The man wears a finely decorated, red tunic and that was all we have learned of his appearance. Don't many of these people have dark eyes and black hair? This is going to be a pain ... What Ismark added to his description was that he is a respective man. He is the protector of Barovia, the overseer of the land as the count.

 

Though, it's a little odd that all people are afraid to speak of his name, that he transforms people into creatures, controls the land and has his eyes everywhere through everything that exists in this dimension of his. Are you sure that he is doing a good job to protect the land? Some of the citizens would even say that he CONTROLS the land. Yeah, any more hints why this man is an odd individual? When one of the others asked if there was a count before him, Ismark shook his head. He replied that the count has been around for ages and he is the only one. Even as capable warriors as we are now, he told us that the count is not someone to mess around with. If that wasn't already clear with what the Vistanian man told us about adventurers that die around the Ravenloft castle when they try to fight the man. Oh yeah, I am convinced he is a ... Strong, immortal man. Great.

 

He also said to us that we're less likely to find stray vampires around because most of them are living with Strahd in the castle. I swear, he probably has a harem or something, that massages his back while he's watching us struggle with everything he throws at us. Much like an amusement show or something. I hope that bastard has fun and that he will look away when we enter the bathroom and shower for the sake of privacy! I better not be doing anything too weird now that I think of it. At least, if it isn't way too late for that already. Before we left, I asked one more question. I wanted to learn about the vampires, if there was a confirmed method how to take them down.

 

Ireena told us that they are extremely sturdy. Which I thought was an interesting description to give what once was human. They are quick on their feet and powerful. Some of the people are converted to vampires by Strahd either on free will or force. And it wouldn't be odd that sometimes, people go missing and turn up later as vampires. Just like what happened to Doru. We better keep an eye on Ireena before she transforms. She refuses to take it easy and she needs to be a part of our adventure. Yshvara supported her ideals but me, like most others, feel unsure about it. I guess it can't hurt to have her get outside the mansion every once in a while.

 

ON OUR WAY!

 

Naedithas and Tibirin used their immense strength to lift up the coffin with not much of an issue and we headed to the church to the Father we have previously met. Shevat and Naedithas haven't met him before and they were startled to hear the voice of his son screaming from down the undercroft for food. It would seem like it hasn't stopped and I recall that the team intends to end his suffering with the Father's permission but first thing is first, we took care of sir Indirovich. We helped to dig his grave, opened up the coffin, so that the Father gave him his magical prayers and shut it again to lower the coffin, deep underground. It was so exhausting but I am happy it is taken care of. It wasn't a nice sight to see those poor humans cry for their loss because it must have been a terrible situation to see one's father die of exhaustion after everything that has happened. I am honestly glad that the man didn't suddenly jump out of his coffin to murder us. It was such a relief that it was normal for once.

 

We followed the Father back to the church. When we could hear the sounds of his son again. It was a good opportunity for us to address our next mission. Father Donavich wasn't very happy about it, he has told us that he prayed day and night but nothing would help and there is nothing he can do. He understood that it has to be done to release his son from his suffering. We learned that Doru has always been a very kind, young man and that he would not want to harm anyone. It is probably for the best? Unless he would just have someone to feed on but ... I guess that person won't really make it out alive with that amount of hunger.

 

Yshvara, Shevat and Ireena convinced the man and once the Father accepted his son's fate, he gave us the directions to find his son. I told him that we'll take care of it soon, so that his son doesn't need to suffer for long but ... Not everyone was very happy with that. I don't understand the issue much but ... I just turned around and left with them. I don't get these people, really ... I would be happy to know that it'll be a quick, nearly painless death?

 

TO BATTLE! ... Ah, not again

 

With the directions given, we followed our path down to the undercroft, past a wall with claw marks and eventually we made it to an empty seeming room. It was large and it only had a very dim light inside. It was hard to recognize but my eye caught some movement from the ceiling to our left and I quickly let the others know. We spread ourselves over the room and found Doru. For the short sighted humans among us, it was difficult to locate Doru well, so Shevat and Yshvara helped to put an end to our disadvantage. Now that I have managed to get a better grip on my arcane mastery, I discovered a method to enchant some of my arrows and I have done my best to put it to test with Doru first. It was a fine hit and it worked just as planned! Luckily the others had the guy under control and distracted him from my attacks. That guy was creepy ... It's hard to imagine that it was once a human with eyes, teeth and claws like that. I have seen enough claw marks around here to say that his claws are rather sturdy. Even the damage the others have made, he barely took any severe damage. Every time I tried to take a closer look, it was as if he never really took any of the damage from our weapons.

 

Though, to our luck, that changed during the battle, the more we pushed on. Nearing the end of battle, Doru lost his self control and slipped past Naedithas, Tibirin, Ireena and Yshvara and aimed an attack on Shevat. To our luck, it failed, but he did get a hold on Ireena and sucked some of her blood to restore his body. The thought is disgusting that these creatures feed on blood and I believe there was a rumor out there that their favorite blood type is virgin blood. Hopefully she is not, so that it was at least disgusting to the guy. I hated it when he got so close to Shevat and me, that I couldn't help myself to retreat to the corner of the room and to firmly press my back against the wall. Tibirin was so kind to push him in the other direction and stand in between to guard us. Thank the Gods ...

 

It was Ireena who unleashed the former human from his suffering when her glowing blade slid the head off its neck and damn, that was disgusting. To save my sanity, I faced away and hoped for it to be over soon. I could hear them speak of how to get rid of the body. So had suggested obtaining a coffin. Yshvara was so kind to take care of that problem and later on, she returned with a coffin and the Father who followed her a little later on. I carefully turned around when I felt that the coast was clear. But damn, it reeked. I saw my team bend and pray for Doru but Yshvara was having some difficulty. I'm not sure if she was also affected by the sight or not ...

 

... YET ANOTHER FUNERAL

 

We have helped the man to carry the coffin back upstairs and followed the same procedure as we did with Ireena's father. Again, I saw his prayer lit up and it somehow fascinated me. I'm not sure what method he uses, I am unfamiliar with his magical prayers. It is such a shame to know that not even a man this holy can save his own son. It may be the curse of Strahd, one that cannot be broken even by the holy. I slowly felt myself becoming more and more desperate and aware of the harsh environment we are in. This is not a joke, this is not a dream, this is a living nightmare and I am wide awake and somehow still living. I do not want to imagine taking any damage from undead creatures, the sight is unbearing. I hope that I can be more helpful to the team. They take up so much damage for all of us.

 

When Doru's funeral was taken care of, we all followed the Father back to the church. He has thanked us and asked of us to be left on his own. Yshvara spoke a little with him and tried to encourage him a little which he appreciated. We saw him reach for a bottle of wine and I do hope that he will get over it soon. It is not easy to watch your child die before you and we all grew more aware that this curse must be taken care of. I do not know, however, if we will be strong enough to get rid of it entirely. As the situation is as it is now, we do not have much of a choice in it all. We have decided to leave the man on his own and told him, that if he requires our help, that he can find us nearby. We have returned to the tavern, "Blood of the Vine" (?) while Ismark made his way back home with work to do. Finally we could have some rest there after all the hard work. It was pretty peaceful and pleasant to listen to Yshvara's music while we rested. She is amazing with her music skill and I think her role in the party is overall really great. I wish I had more courage like she does ...

 

While we were there and Ireena had her break. We had suggested to her to give it some thought to travel with us but she is a stubborn woman. I personally like that but in this environment, it may as well become her downfall. And I'm still anxious about the realization that she is a victim of Strahd as well. I feel that he has control over when it breaks out. Still, she refused to give in. And I told her that, when she feels odd, that she must tell that immediately. I referred to the rope we carry on us. If we manage to tie her up right, then even with her inhuman strength, she may not be able to escape. I do not know if it will work out well but the thought terrifies me.

 

ANOTHER MISSION, ANOTHER BATTLE

 

We needed some time to kill while we felt unsure what to do in this unknown environment. I recall the task that we were given by Bildrath, the merchant to find his Explorer Packs. Thanks to the others' memory, we followed the directions he had given us and eventually stood eye in eye with two hills to which a satchel was attached. Naedithas carefully approached it, realizing that it was likely a trap, he tried to take it off the hill but it looked like it was stuck. We were standing far in the distance, when we noticed that the ground was  vibrating near the guard. Two creatures appeared from each hill, making a total of four enemies far in the distance. They were HUGE. Even taller than Naedithas! And it wasn't hard to judge when he stands so close to them! Dammit, Naedithas! I couldn't bear the sight and quickly jumped forth to attack one of the two enemies standing close to him, but it was tougher than it looked. Everyone else was quick to join and we had the situation mostly under control.

 

Until Tibirin suddenly fainted. I recalled my Arcane abilities and I felt urged to give them another shot and why once when I needed to shoot twice to keep him safe?! I have successfully managed to charm the two and kept them occupied with Tibirin's interesting seeming appearance to the two, while the fight went on. It is such a relief that Shevat and Yshvara can recover some of their health. It is thanks to them, that Tibirin regained consciousness and took one of them down and the second quickly followed. In the meanwhile, the situation grew tense when people were stuck in their grip and even Ireena became a victim. It was unbearable to see her faint twice in a row! ... I hope that she will give her whole adventure ideals another set of thoughts! These monsters do not have mercy for women! Neither was Yshvara very certain of herself this time and I do recall her mocking the enemy, which I thought was funny. Did it work, though?

 

When the battle ended, we all went over to Ireena who wasn't in the best shape. It even angered Shevat and he had no patience any longer to keep her outside of here and transformed into a beautiful, black horse. Woah! That's so impressive! I had no clue that he can transform into so many different animals! Or did I forget ... Uh. With the explorer packs in our possession, we needed to make sure that Ireena would return safely. Hopefully everyone is doing well ... I mean, Tibirin was knocked out as well?!