Entry 7 - CoS: The Marionette pt 1 (Whisper)

VII.  The Marionette (DDAL04-04) part 1

5/5/2016  Nerdageddon, Brighton DM:  Lucas  4113342157

Whisper – human paladin (John), Alaric – elven fighter (Jay), Selene – elven ranger (Lisa), Barney – human fighter (Christian), Zhey – elven wizard (Gina), Bill – dwarven rogue (Jacob), Flint - fighter (Logan), Lylium - wizard (Johnathan), Klock – half orc barbarian (Tanner), Garren - cleric (Brogan)



Draft (session notes only)

While resting at the Seven Tables Inn the evening after the undead attack with Lazlo, the owner Marco approaches the adventurers who helped the town and the new outsiders. He informs them that Vasile and his friend Merle had been sent to a nearby village for supplies and had not returned. He offered to reward the group if they could discover what happened and help if needed. Everyone agrees and sets off at first light.

A few hours out from town the group comes upon an overturned cart with two boys lying near by as a pair of harpies pick over the dead mule. The new cleric with the group does not hesitate to attack the creatures and several others soon attack as well. One of the harpies flys away while the first is felled in short order. Upon inspection the party finds Vasile is still alive but appears to be suffering from an undead attack which drained his life force rather than from the harpies. His friend however is dead.

The group crafts some crude litters to bring Vasile and the body back to the town arriving around mid day. They take both to the hospice where Glovia and Soreena explore the injuries and treat Vasile. Not long after getting settled back in town and notifying Marco of what happened the town crier summons everyone to the town square for an announcement.

The adventurers are called out by name and asked to head immediately to the Burgomeister's home. The crier reasures the town that the party is not wanted for any criminal activities and there is nothing to worry over. After some party members debate the prudence of hiding their coin purses before a meeting with the tax collector they make their way to his home. Outside before being greeted by the butler they walk past a colorful wagon out front. This was pointed out to them earlier as a vargo and employed by the Vistani.

The butler brings them to a sitting room and introduces the burgomeister Ivan and his other guest, a young woman in colorful cloths inlaid with bells by the name of Sibble. After introductions Ivan tells the group that Sibble has just done a reading for him and the results were disturbing and involved all of us. He insists that we too have a reading done and after some trepidation by several of the group we begin and Sibble has us focus on a crystal ball in the center of the table.

Once all have focused on the orb and closed their eyes they feel a falling sensation and find themselves in a large room. In this room is a table with spectacles, a pitcher of cider and glasses. Also in the room is a young girl turned away from the group playing a harpsichord. Next to her is a smaller table with a book. Across the room are shelves with toys and dolls and at the opposite side of the room from the group is a bust on a pedestal and a large painting that appears to be Glovia a man and a young girl.

When addressed the young girl turns and the party sees her as afflicted with boils and lesions of some sort. All but Lylium that is who put on the spectacles. He sees her as normal. However he also sees puppet strings leading off of all in the room and when he glances at the bust the eyes meet his, startling him.  Selene goes through the girl's diary discovering some alarming information about the girl's illness and Glovia's research towards a cure.

The girl is Glovia's daughter and the man in the painting is her father Lucian who was, or is, a toy/doll maker. Someone hands the girl a glass of cider and discovers she is either an illusion or incoporeal in some way as she's unable to hold the glass. Garren checks the room for magic and finds everything around them glows with the light of magic. The girl explains that her mother needs a powder box to help make her better. When asked about the box Lazlo bursts in however he is three times larger than normal. There are also puppet strings leading off of him as if he was a marionette leading up to a huge figure looming above who looks like Glovia. Trailing away up above her however are further strings leading into blackness. As this confrontation begins to unfold the party hears “Wake up!” in increasing persistence and volume.

The party awakens in the bergomeister's home with him in a panic. The town is in chaos. The party rushes out the front door and sees Lazlo in the distance at the foot of the mountain. He shouts out to Glovia asking her what she will do now, throws a torch at the town hall roof and flees. The burgomeister shouts for the group to save the food stores at the town hall before they burn.

The party splits up and successfully deals with the following.

Klock, Zhey and Flint make it out with the last of 5 crates of goods as the building collapses.

Lylium, Alaric, Garren(?) and Bill rush to the jail and free a man who turns out to be a wereraven.

Barney, Selene and Alaric confront and defeat a ghast who appears to be directing the attack and some skeletons.

Whisper heads off alone to hold off several zombies while Oleg escapes with two children.

After the chaos dies down the group heads to the Inn. They had no more sat down when someone bursts in to tell them Serena and her father are missing and the party should look for them up at the manor outside of town.


OOC:  Group received the story rewards "Trust of the Burgomeister" and "Eye of the Raven".  A rescued child told the party that the floor in the front room of the manor is weak and could break or be broken easily.  One party member (Garren or Barney I believe) has a key with a stone set into the top.  0 renown 0 down time days, 600 exp, 14gp each

Entry 6 - CoS: The Marionette pt 1

VI. The Marionette (DDAL04-04) part 1

5/1/2016 Get Your Game On, Ann Arbor, DM: Aaron 4511659554

Tale - tiefling warlock (John), Dale – half elf bard (Kirk), Gaven half elf sorcerer (Zach), Ahnfred – human druid (Chris), Selvan – wood elf cleric (Chris), Thraek - half orc fighter (Alex)


Draft (session notes only) 

After the events of “The Executioner” the party finds itself at the Seven Tables Inn owned by Marco. One of the boys who makes their supply run is missing. He was suppose to have returned in a wagon by now with supplies from the blacksmith Graylon in the next village over called Coral which we are told is frequented by the Vistani. The boy, Valkie was familiar with the run and never encountered any problems he couldn't deal with previously. The party agrees to head towards Coral and see what they can find out.

Gaven rents some horses and a cart for the trip and the party sets out. Less than half way down the road to Coral the party sees a pair of bears and an ogre. The ogre appears to be standing watch as his bears chew on the carcass of two horses tied to a wagon. The party seeing this approaches calling out to the ogre asking if they can tend to what looks like a boy buried up to his neck in the snow. The ogre tells the group the boy is food and after Selvan attempts to trade for the boy, the ogre decides our whole party would add to his food stores and releases his tethered bears.

The group defeats the ogre and his bears and finds the buried boy is dead but there is another boy tied up in a blanket in the back of the wagon. This turns out to be Valkie and the other boy was a friend of his. Valkie appears quite ill likely at the hand of some life-force draining undead creature. The corpse of the other boy in fact turns undead and the party dispatches it. After some arguing over whether to press on to the next town the majority finally convinces the others to turn back to Aransnod and get Valkie to the hospice.

Once they get the boy settled with Glovia and her apprentice at the hospice the party hears the town crier making an announcement. He calls all the adventurers out by name and asks that they meet at the burgomeister's home while reassuring the town that these individuals are not wanted for any criminal misdeeds. Walking up to the burgomeister's home the party sees a wagon out front guarded by two heavily branded shirtless men, which strikes them as odd in the middle of a snowy cold winter where every other local is wearing warm clothing.

At the door they are met by the butler who invites them in cordially and introduces them to the burgomeister Ivan and his gust Sibble, a Vistani seer. Ivan greets them heartily and invites them to sit at his table. There is a chair for each member of the party with that person's name carved into it. As soon as everyone sits servants dressed in the fashion of each party member's respective homelands bring out one of their favorite dishes. After the meal Ivan tells the party why he has called them.

Sibble did a reading earlier for him and saw the town in flames with us in the center of it attacking his citizens. He demands to know why we would do such a thing as if it was a certainty we would do so. When the party explains they have no intention of attacking anyone in the town unprovoked Ivan requests we submit to a reading as well. Sibble produces an orb and once the party joins hands around the table the experience some sort of vision, which seems real while it is occurring.

They find themselves in a home of sorts with a large ballroom lined with some sort of clockwork dancers and music coming from seemingly nowhere. One wall is battered and scratched as if something was attempting to escape, unsuccessfully. Once the chandelier is lit some of the clockworks appear to be in distress but only from a distance.

Another room has glasses that once worn allow the person to see strings leading up from people as if they were marionettes. There is also a scrying bowl in the room much like the one found in “Death House”. In the room is a young girl who's back is to the group. When some get close she turns to show her face in ruins from a claw wound of some sort stunning one of the party from the sheer horror of it. The girl seems normal and unaware of the injury and talks to the group while playing with dolls.

She tells the group about an item her mother is hiding from someone. The party sorts out that this is the child of Glovia from the hospice, the item is being hidden from Lazlo and seems to be the powder box he was looking for. As she shows the group it's hiding spot Lazlo smashes through the window, rakes claws down the girl's face and steals the item before the group “wakes up” finding themselves in Ivan's dining room with him yelling.

The town is in chaos, he claims never to have met us and demands to know what we are doing in his home. The group briefly describes meeting with him and the Vistani seer and that seems enough to shift the blame of any wrongdoing to the Vistani rather than us. Besides, there is a town to save!

Zombies are running around town chasing people. Two stay in the windows and attack undead from there while others run outside to aid others. The group outside notice a man in the window of the now burning jail calling for help. They manage to free the man who promptly turns into a raven after throwing them a bag in thanks. Eventually the group rallies and fights off the remaining undead in town.

OOC:  Group received the story rewards "Eye of the Raven".

Entry 5 - CoS: The Executioner

V.  The Executioner  (DDAL04-03)

4/21/2016  Nerdageddon, Brighton,  DM:  Aaron  4511659554

Tale – tiefling warlock (John), Alaric – elven fighter (Jay), Selene – elven ranger (Lisa), Faelna – Elven wizard (Fenway), Barney – human fighter (Christian), Zhey – elven wizard (Gina), Bill – dwarven rogue (Jacob)

Storyteller, can I assume something of interest has kept you occupied in the land of mists this day?

Indeed, Patron!  The strangeness of this land increases with every passing moment.  The inn keep of this village, Malcom informed us that in the last few weeks almost all of his patrons have either vanished without trace in the night or been found dead!  He offered us a reward and free room and board should myself and the other guests of the inn be able to resolve this predicament.  My previous traveling companions have all vanished upon my return to town.  This group, much like the last appears to have also faced a version of the events in the woods like my own and that of the others I spoke of.  These however, were able to rescue Elania and she has since been freed from the curse!

This fluidity of time, is it common in your land?

Not at all Patron, it is both wondrous and terrifying!  I have a hint though that some of the denizens of the mist may be aware of it.  Laslo appeared to hold a grudge against me as he did those in this group hostile toward Elania.  As if he knew that I took part in slaying her with my earlier companions!  But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Tale speaks of meeting Arik the junk dealer at the inn.  A man who claims to be an outsider trapped in Barovia for over a year who wanders from village to village.  The group later learns that despite his multi week stay at the inn (the only not to have died or disappeared lately) he owns a home in town.

The party discovers many tiny claw marks about the inn and that all windows are spelled so that they may be opened from outside despite being locked.  As the doors bar from within this explains how someone was gaining entry into the rooms.  Also of note, no vermin appear present.  This seems beyond cleanliness and borders on unnatural for an inn this size.

He describes meeting Philler, owner of the trading post, and his odd appearance and mannerisms.  He tells what he learned from Tatiana’s journal he purchased whole searching for clues of past inn patrons.  It is still uncertain if the journal belonged to a patron or not.  The contents of the journal describe a woman pursued by one brother when she desires the other who is off to war.

As the group leaves the trading post one of the fighters suddenly attempts to barge past Philler to see what else is in his back room.  The man leaps across the room delivering a kick to the fighter (I forget which player) and lands deftly on his feet and ushers us out.  The party then proceeds to the Hair & Hare to speak with Gregory for further clues.  While roaming around town the party is observed by / followed by 3 ravens.  Zhey notes that they glow with magical energies.

After learning little from the two shop keeps some of the party returns to the inn while Selene and (?) walk to the graveyard.  There she meets Philler again placing flowers on the grave of his wife, who he later reveals was killed by Arik.  All around are ravens acting unnatural yet not hostile.  Philller, obviously alarmed urges Selene and (?) to confront Arik and investigate his home.  They agree and return to the inn to update and rally the others.

While at the inn Arik makes a big show of informing all he is turning in for the night.  Tale’s familiar, an owl perched on the inn roof observes Arik exiting his window on the second level, crawling up and over the roof and proceeding to and into his home in the village.  The party updates each other on what they have learned and the group heads to Arik’s home.

After some skulking about the party barges into the home.  Inside are 3 zombies and some monstrosity chained to the wall.  Or it WAS chained to the wall until attacked and angered by the party.  After that it tore loose and smashed its way into the party taking apart the house as it went.  After a few close calls and Alaric being knocked unconscious the group managed to defeat all within the house.  They saw the belongings of what they assumed to be the disappeared patrons within as well as a journal.  Philler arrives and asks if Arik was stopped but the party never found him inside.  He apparently escaped through a tunnel exit and out into the woods.  Philler provides a healing potion to get Alaric back on his feet and just as the group prepares to pursue Arik out the tunnel they hear screams from town.

Opting to rush back to town the group finds a specter and 4 zombies assaulting or eating the bodies of townsfolk.  The party intervenes.  The battle is hard won leaving two unconscious yet clinging to life.  A magic hat found at the scene as well as the contents of the journal in Arik’s home all point towards him being Laslo who all agree was dead when found at the hunter’s camp.  It seems he was offered some trade which returned him to life to be with Elania.  His end of the bargain had to do with the kidnappings and finding some relic; a powder box able to halt aging.  The party was also listed in this journal with either “kill” or “capture” annotated after each.  Those hostile towards Elania seems to be what determine the category each person found themselves in.

The injured were brought to the hospice where Elania was recovering and Tale returned to the inn to sleep.  Pushing the largest piece of furniture in the room to block the window...

An eventful evening to be sure.  I look forward to our next meeting storyteller.

Entry 4 - CoS: The Beast (Whisper)

IV.  The Beast (DDAL04-02)

4/17/2016  Get Your Game On, Ann Arbor,  DM: Aaron  4511659554

Whisper – human paladin (John), Dale – drow fighter (Kirk), Aelos – half elven paladin/warlock (Dan), Zebulon – wood elf cleric (Zach), Ahnfred – human druid (Chris), Copperbeard – dwarven cleric (Michael)

What news beyond the mists today storyteller?

Actually this day I spent recuperating in town studying the new rituals you gifted me as well as preparing as you instructed for adding another spell I found into the tome. While resting I had a most peculiar dream. I was a paladin named Whisper. I was with a group that included Copperbeard who I met earlier and we were sent off to find Laslo and Elain just as before. The events that happened along the way were similar some of the time and totally different at others. It seemed so real, other than the fact I was someone else.

That is indeed curios. Thus far the land of mists seems more interesting than I had hoped. I hope you are not attempting to trick me with a simple retelling of the same story?

Umm, no, Patron. It seems that I, as this paladin, and the others not only encountered similar events but things were left in a far different state than they were when I did them... As, well, myself.

Tale relays the story as told by the group who adventured with Whisper (my other character) through the events of The Beast. Upon finding the wagon there was an injured and stripped tattooed man tied up nearby. Upon investigation a trap was triggered killing the man and injuring a party member somewhat. The wagon itself was booby trapped with crossbows as well. While traveling the path, mysteriously cleared of snow, some of the group were struck with acute homesickness, a likely magical effect. The path itself seemed to be hedged in by magic of some sort. While on the path, no wildlife was visible in the woods. While off the path, not only was no visible cleared path present but wolves could be seen nearby watching the party. As they continued forward the group attempted to scout off the path as well by using a rope between those on the path and off it to signal each other.

Further up the road the party finds a tattooed woman over a huge bear corpse bristling with arrows. When hailed in order to question her she first claims the kill is hers but then flees from the path vanishing. Some of the party give chase. They see her transform into a werewolf and stop a short ways away taunting them to cross some magical line they detect.

At the same time the remaining party on the path and the other side of the path unaware of what is happening with the woman/werewolf approach the bear corpse. It erupts and a serpentine humanoid crawls out of it. Eventually it threatens to eat the party and they attack and slay the creature.

Just then the werewolf is dragged across the line and onto the path by the druid in wolf form. He is bit for his trouble but fights off infection / the change. Eventually the party agrees to allow the werewolf to leave after it knocks one party member unconscious.

From here the party finds the hunting camp and Laslo’s body and meet the elves just as Tale did with his group. Leaving the elves behind they track a werewolf to the cave. Rather than killing her as Tale’s party did, this group is able to convince her to return with them to the camp, hoping to ease her into realizing she is a lycanthrope and is responsible for Laslo’s death. Ahnfred breaks the news on the way refusing to deceive Elania. She rushes off losing the party.

The party finds only a single elf woman of the group left at the camp. She said Laslo’s corps got up, attacked her companions, slew them and they rose and all walked away. The party and the lone elf survivor return to town to let Gregory know the fate of his hunters.

Upon reaching town they find Elania has been burned. Apparently captured and recognized as a werewolf.

So not only is the mist bringing outsiders to this land but apparently it, or some force residing here can control life, death and time itself. Take care storyteller, I’d hate to have wasted my efforts with you thus far.

Entry 3 - CoS: Death House pt 2

III.  Death House:  Part Two  (DDLE4)

4/10/2016  Get Your Game On, Ann Arbor,  DM: Aaron  4511659554

Tale – tiefling warlock (John), Selvan – wood elf cleric (Chris), Gavin – half elf sorcerer (Zach), Copperbeard – dwarven cleric (Michael), Clip – drow fighter (Chris) 

Tale recounts his return to Death House.  Upon finding himself again in the Durst home the druid Keira is absent but three new faces join Selvan and Tale as they continue to uncover the mysteries of the house.  He relays their conversation and battle with the specter of Elizabeth Durst and her spider, of finding the scrying bowl, wedding bands (taken by others in the party); and of the dead servant in the closet.  He tells of finding “The Marionette” in the washroom, which after being shocked into silence he bundled up in a blood stained servant’s uniform to take with him. 

He excitedly tells of his quick thinking in the crypts where he donned the vestments and holy item of the cultist upon entering the ritual room.  There he feigned acting out the sacrifice the ghostly figures were demanding upon Copper Beard.  Some performance skills, a sleep spell by Gavin, and a minor illusion of spilled blood was sufficient to summon the shambling mound.  After a brutal battle the group was victorious and escaped the house.  Upon exit, the children were seen again in the road as if the entire home had reset, presumably to play out the events again for the next to stumble upon it.  Then the mists engulfed the party and whisked them away to places unknown.

Apparently this haunted house is also interested in a good story...  I wonder if the monster attacked because you refused to offer a proper sacrifice, or if your deception was enough to summon the creature?  Either way, an exciting tale.

I believe further rewards are in order.  When you wake my book will contain additional writings in the back.  Keep it on your person to receive my favor.  There are also instructions for rituals which may be of some use.  Should you learn other rituals within your abilities, open the book before you sleep to a blank page near the back.  Pour suitable inks onto the page and when you wake, the ritual you learned will be committed to the page.

Thank you Patron.  Your gifts thus far have been quite useful in this land.  While interesting and thrilling it seems quite dangerous here in the mists.  Will I be able to return to Baulder’s Gate soon?  I miss the comforts of home and the stage.  Also, this cold weather does not suit me at all.

If I knew the answer to that why would I waste my time with you?  The mists do not answer to me as I do not answer to you.  I may have offered you for consideration for entrance into the mists, but I cannot call you back from them.  I have never dreamt of what lies beyond them.  I dreamt of you so that I might learn what lies within.  Do not fail me. 

Entry 2 - CoS: The Beast

II.  The Beast (DDAL04-02)           

4/7/2016  Nerdageddon, Brighton DM:  Scott  8081104852

Tale – tiefling warlock (John), Karth – half orc cleric (Chris), Eric the Red – dwarven rogue (Eric), Klock – half orc barbarian (Tanner)

This is quite confusing my patron.  When we last spoke I was resting within the Durst home but when I woke I found myself outside again, in the mist.  I was with a different group of people this time but it seemed to be the same land again. 

As I told you last time, this is not my story.  I have dreamt you to entertain me, not so that I can provide answers to a figment.  Tell me a story.

Tale recounts his recent events in Barova finding himself in the company of a dwarf and two half orcs.  This time he chose to travel in the guise of a human testing out the new abilities granted by his patron.  He tells of meeting Gregory at the Hair and Hare, of being sent to find Lazlo and Elaina, two local hunters gone missing.  Of being ambushed on the road by some sort of bandits which vanish upon being defeated.  Of seeing his first werewolf.  He then tells of finding Lazlo's corpse and meeting a group of elves who appear to also have been brought here by the mists.  He tells of his first encounter with zombies and their stubborn refusal to stay dead when destroyed.  Lastly he recounts finding Elaina and two wolves in a cave, of finding and keeping her journal which goes from arguments with Lazlo to paranoia to madness, all of which appears to be explained by her lycanthropy.  She attacks after being shown the severed head of her lover which the cleric of war was thoughtful enough to not only bring along but confront her with.  After a very close fight they returned to the Hair and Hare to collect a reward and divided up the spoils, which included gold and a scroll of a summon bonfire cantrip Tale kept.

And the half orc priest claimed both head of those you were sent to find?  Returned with them, and their concerned friend... rewarded you all?

Yes.  It is a odd place to be sure.  I also learned a bit more about Strahd from the latter found in the Durst home.  Gregory called him “the devil” and was fearful of even speaking his name.  He is a apparently a powerful vampire, the lord of Ravenloft castle and ruler of this land and has been for a very long time.

How fascinating!  I look forward to hearing more about this land and it's inhabitants.

Entry 1 - CoS: Death House pt 1

2.  Curse of Strahd

I.  Death House:  Part One  (DDLE4)

4/3/2016  Get Your Game On, Ann Arbor,  DM: Aaron 4511659554

Tale – tiefling warlock (John), Keira – human druid (Scott), Selvan – elven cleric (Chris)

Did you send me here Patron?

What would be the point of having a figment tell me a story I myself had authored?  What did you find on the other side of the mists?

Tale recounts the events beyond the mist finding himself in winter cloths in a strange land without knowledge of how he came to be here.  The two strangers Selvana and Keira he finds himself traveling with; and of meeting Rose and Thorn Durst outside their home and venturing in to find their brother Walter, parents and whatever monster the children believe resides within.  Being a fan of horror stories he enthusiastically describes the home and the odd things encountered within.  This includes fighting with a shovel and broom, suits of armor, a spectral nanny and discovering that the two children are some sort of apparitions.

He describes the items he gathered thus far within the house as well which include the following.  A hand crossbow and 10 bolts of sharpened wood, a page of blank sheet music, a decorative cover book without any writing inside, the Durst family seal, Durst documents including a deed, a will and a letter from Strahd, a blank book which glows of magic yet to be identified and an Orb of the Warmage +1 which offers +1 to hit on attack roll spells and allows the caster to ignore half cover or less on these attacks.

Excellent!  That was much more enjoyable than your previous stories.  I hope to hear more in this vein from you in the future.  As a reward I shall grant you further abilities.  You may change your appearance at will, the better to fulfill whatever role suits best the story at hand.  The more your stories please me, the more power I shall grant.  This should both help keep you from an ignoble end as a superfluous figment and make your stories more interesting. 

Until next time.