Session 010 - 2024-12-02

Summary

The party experienced a horrifying illusion at the old gallows before following the sounds of music to a Vistani encampment at Tser Pool. There, they heard the tragic tale of a fallen wizard who defied Strahd and were invited into Madam Eva's tent for a prophetic Tarokka card reading that would outline their destined path.

The Hangman's Illusion

Continuing down the road after defeating the scarecrows, the party reached a fork: the right path led to Tser Pool, and the left wound uphill towards Vallaki and Castle Ravenloft. At the crossroads stood an old gallows with a rotting rope dangling in the wind. Alfbern investigated but found nothing unusual. However, as the party turned to leave, a creaking noise echoed behind them. They looked back to see a cadaver suddenly hanging from the rope. To Linus's horror, the corpse bore his exact face. When Alfbern poked the unsettling body with his staff, it instantly dissolved into a puddle of thick, clear liquid.

The Vistani Encampment

Faint voices and music drifted from the direction of Tser Pool, prompting the group to investigate. At the edge of the lake, they found a lively Vistani encampment. While Linus, Alfbern, and Ireena remained hidden up the road, Jon and Klildar approached the large group of Vistani gathered around a fire, who were eating, drinking, and playing music. The Vistani welcomed them warmly and offered drinks. One of them recounted a tale of a brave Wizard who, a year prior, had rallied the villagers to storm Castle Ravenloft, only to be defeated and thrown from the heights into the river below by Strahd himself.

Madam Eva's Reading

As the story concluded, a woman emerged from the largest tent. She announced that Madam Eva had foretold the party's arrival and invited all of them—even those hiding—inside. Madam Eva greeted each member by name and offered to read their fate. Presenting a Tarokka deck, she had Jon cut the cards. She then proceeded with a mystical tarokka reading that revealed cryptic clues about their future.

After the profound experience, the party returned outside and negotiated with a Vistana to guide them halfway to Vallaki. For the price of 30 gp and a golden ring, they secured transport for the morning, aiming to be dropped off near a landmark known as the Old Bonegrinder.

Party

• Alfbern, Level 3 Druid (Ziro)
• Klildar, Level 3 Paladin (Fábio)
• Jon, Level 3 Ranger (Ricardo)
• Linus, Level 3 Wizard (Daniel)

Setup

• Discord (videochat)
• KenkuFM (ambiance)
• Owlbear Rodeo (combat encounters and exploration)

Appendix: Raw Session Notes

• The party continued down the road after defeating the scarecrows and reached a fork, to the right the road would take them to Tser Pool, a lake formed by river, and to the left the road went uphill and leads to Vallaki and Castle Ravenflot
• At the fork, they came upon an old gallows, which had only a rotting rope dangling. Alfbern investigated it but found nothing of note. However, right when the party turned to leave, they heard a creaking noise and saw a cadaver hanging from the rope. No one in the group recognised the cadaver, except for Linus, that saw himself. Alfbern proceeded to poke the body with his staff, to which the body dissolved into a puddle of thick clear liquid
• The group was able to notice faint voices and music coming from the Tser Pool direction, and they decided to investigate. Upon reaching the clearing at the end of the road, and by the lake's shore, they found an encampment of Vistani
• A large group of vistani was sitting by the fire, drinking, eating, and playing music. Jon and Klildar went ahead to meet them, leaving Linus, Alfbern, and Ireena hidden up the road
• The meeting proved to be amicable, the Vistani welcomed them and offer drinks. One of them told a story about a Wizard that showed up a year ago, rallied the villagers and stormed Castle Ravenloft and fought Strahd until he was thrown from the top and into the river
• Once the story was finished, a woman emerged from the largest tent stating that the party's arrival was foretold by Madam Eva and she invited them into her tent, including the three that were hiding up the road
• They were greeted by name, and then asked if they wanted to have their fate read, Madam Eva shuffled and placed a deck of cards and asked for them to cut it, which Jon proceeded to do so. The cards are known as Tarokka
• Here's the tarokka reading
• After the reading the party went outside and hired a vistana to take them half-way to Vallaki, they offered 30 gp + a golden ring. They will leave in the morning and will be dropped near the Old Bonegrinder