Session 011 - 2025-01-27

Summary

The party caught a ride with a Vistana towards Vallaki, learning valuable lore about Strahd and the valley along the way. Dropped off at the Old Bonegrinder windmill, they uncovered grisly evidence of child sacrifice and ambushed the suspicious old woman inside, only to realize she was not alone.

The Journey to Vallaki

Early in the morning, the party and Ireena set off from the Vistani encampment aboard a cargo cart driven by a young Vistana named Ionel Orshaga. During the ride, Ionel shared crucial information about the valley's history: Strahd hailed from a royal bloodline and died centuries ago; he named the valley Barovia after his father, King Barov, and his castle Ravenloft after his mother, Queen Ravenovia. He also warned them to stick to the road, explaining that the forests were filled with wild druids, ghosts, werewolves, and that Strahd held sway over beasts like wolves and bats.

The Old Bonegrinder

Ionel dropped the party off near a looming, decrepit windmill known as the Old Bonegrinder. As they approached, Alfbern and Klildar spotted an old woman pushing a cart into the building. Alfbern remembered seeing her selling goods in the village of Barovia, while Klildar noticed a large sack on her cart moving as if something living was trapped inside.

Before they entered, a mysterious raven perched above the door spoke to them. It advised the group to seek out the Blue Water Inn in Vallaki to find new allies before flying away.

A Gruesome Discovery

Stepping inside the windmill, the party found a makeshift kitchen with a floor littered with small human bones. They also discovered a suspicious barrel filled with a greenish-black ichor, which Alfbern identified as demonic in nature. Together with Klildar, he disposed of the foul substance by tumbling the barrel outside. Meanwhile, Jon snuck up the staircase and peered onto the first floor, where he saw the old woman sweeping, her apron caked in dust and blood. Piecing the clues together, the group concluded that she was kidnapping and killing children, likely using them to bake her meat pies.

The Ambush

Determined to put an end to her evil deeds, the party set a trap when the woman called out that she was checking on her pies. Linus, Klildar, and Ireena waited just outside the door, while Alfbern and Jon hid in the kitchen. However, the woman spotted Alfbern, and a fight erupted. The group managed to pin her down at the top of the stairs and unleashed a flurry of attacks, but she broke free from Linus's magical grasp and fled upstairs, screaming for help. Jon pursued her to the first floor but missed his shot, only to hear the heavy footfalls of reinforcements descending from the second floor to join the fray.

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, and Ireena, set off from the encampment early in the morning, riding a cargo cart driven by Ionel Orshaga, a young vistana man
• During the ride Ionel shared a few pieces of information:
  • Strahd comes from a royal bloodline, died centruies ago
  • He named the valley (Barovia) after his father, King Barov, and his castle (Ravenloft) after his mother, Queen Ravenovia
  • There are three main settlements in the valley: Krzek (W), Vallaki (C), Barovia (E)
  • Stick to the road, the forests have wild druid, ghosts, wolves and werewolves
  • Strahd has influence over some beasts, like wolves and bats
• They were dropped off near an old windmill, the Old Bonegrinder
• Alfbern and Klildar noticed an old woman entering the build pushing a cart. Alfbern recalled seeing her selling her goods in the village of Barovia, and Klildar noticed a large sack that moved like some creature
• The party decided to investigate, and when they reached the building a raven was sitting at the top of the door, the raven greeted them saying that they should look for the Blue Water Inn in Vallaki, where they could meet some new friends, and then it took off in flight
• They entered the building and noticed the makeshift kitchen, the floor littered with small human bones, and a suspicious barrel with a greenish-black ichor
• Alfbern identified the ichor as demonic in nature, and he and Klildar disposed of it by tumbling the barrel outside. Meanwhile, Jon peered on the first floor by sneaking on the staircase
• Jon saw an old woman swiping the floor, her apron caked in dust and blood
• The party drew the conclusion that the old woman is kidnapping the children and killing them, and possibly using them to bake mince pies
• After hearing the woman shouting about going to check on the mince pies, the group decided to try and ambush her
• Linus, Klidar and Ireena stayed outside the building, but still by the door, while Alfbern and Jon hid in the kitchen. The woman was able to spot Alfbern and a fight broke out
• They managed to pin her down at the top of the stairs, and landed a bunch of attacks, but at some point she broke free from Linus magical grasp, and fled upstairs, calling out to someone asking for help
• On the first floor she moved to the back of the room, Jon followed right after her, missing an arrow shot
• He was able to hear movement from the second floor, and realised someone was about to join their foe