Review Charactes

Characters

Scenes

Ezmerelda at the Tower

Scene Start: Arrival at Lake Baratok.
Goal: Establish Ezmerelda's competence, resupply party, separate.

1. The Tower Entry

• The Wagon: Ezmerelda warns the party DO NOT TOUCH. (Trap: 10d10 fire damage).
• The Door: She performs the "dance" to bypass the Lightning Trap.
• Atmosphere: The tower is her temporary sanctuary. She is tense, checking windows.

2. Dialogue: The Assessment

• Why she helped: "The Tarokka cards told me I would find 'enemies of the master' at Argynvostholt. I found you."
• On Strahd: "He is not just a vampire; he is a general. He is the Land. You cannot just fight him; you must dismantle his power."
• On Van Richten: (HIDDEN) She keeps her goal to find her mentor secret. If asked about the tower's owner: "An old wizard lived here long ago. He is gone. I use it now."

3. The Verdict

• Observation: She critiques their fight with Vladimir. "You let emotions drive you. A hunter must be cold."
• Gift: She hands over:
  • 2x Potion of Greater Healing
  • 1x Vial of Holy Water
• Reasoning: "I cannot baby-sit you. Take these. Survive. Get stronger."

4. Departure (Next Morning)

• She allows a Long Rest inside the Tower.
• Dawn: She escorts them out.
• Hook: "I have a hunt to finish. Do not return here unless you have something worth showing me—like a dead bride or a recovered relic."

Travel Encounters

TBD

Wizard of Wines Winery

Approach Vineyard

A light drizzle begins to fall. Unpainted fences blindly follow the trail, which skirts north of a sprawling vineyard before bending south toward a stately building. The fog takes on ghostly forms as it swirls between the neatly tended rows of grapevines. Here and there, you see rope-handled half-barrels used for hauling grapes. North of the trail is a large stand of trees. A man wearing a dark cloak and cowl stands at the edge of the trees, beckoning you.

• 9 wereravens - hiding in the grove North of the vineyard
  • Davian, Adrian (eldest son), Elvir (youngest son), Stefania (daughter), Dag Tomescu (Stefania's husband), four children
• They come out to greet the party
• Davian Martikov is the patriarch - old and suspicious
  • Doesn't tell about the stolen gems at first, only about the druids
  • Tell about the gems if druids are defeated
• Free wine. Lifeblood of Barovian people, as they would go mad without it
• Three barrels of wine are in the dock
• Founded by a forgotten mage (before Strahd's conquest)
• Three magic gems make the healthy grapevines, size and shaped like pinecones
  • Retrieve them: Berez and Yester Hill
• Strahd gave it to the Krezkov family due to their loyalty
• Matrikov family married into it and inherited
• Renowed wines
  • Purple Grapemash No 3 (unremarkable)
  • Red Dragon Crish (more tantalizing)
  • Champagne do le Stomp (rich)
• Ten years ago, one of the gems was stolen (Champagne)
  • Davian blames his middle son Urwin who was on watch the night the gem was stolen
• Three weeks ago, scarecrow attackers dug up and stolen (Baba Lysaga)
• Five days ago, evil druids stole the third and final gem, taking it to Yester Hill
  • The wereravens launched an attack but lost
• Two days ago, druids came back and drove the family away, and poisoned the vats
• Without the Gems wine production will eventually halt

??

TBD