The Abbey's Shadow

Summary

The party defused the civil unrest in Vallaki and traveled to Krezk with Ireena, gaining entry via Lavinia's connections. At the sacred pool, they prevented Sergei's spirit from claiming Ireena, provoking Strahd to destroy the pool with lightning before they carried the unconscious Ireena to the Abbey of Saint Markovia.

Defusing Vallaki

Following the recent chaos, the party took immediate steps to stabilize Vallaki. They made a series of successful persuasion checks, speaking to the townsfolk and effectively defusing the brewing civil unrest directed at the burgomaster. To further calm the mood, they retired to the tavern and paid for everyone's drinks, ensuring the atmosphere remained settled.

They also took the time to properly honor the fallen. Father Lucian's body was given a proper burning, and his signet ring was passed on to Yeska as a memento of the priest's dedication. They spent the rest of the night resting at the tavern.

The Road to Krezk

The following morning, the party set out for the village of Krezk, escorting Ireena and accompanied by Lavinia. The journey took the better part of the day, and they arrived at the village gates in the early evening.

Gaining entry to the isolationist village would normally have been difficult, but Lavinia leveraged her connections with the Martikov family and the Wizard of Wines winery. Recognizing the value of these ties, the guards allowed the party inside the walls.

Desecration of the Sacred Pool

As soon as they entered Krezk, an unnatural compulsion overtook Ireena. She was drawn inexorably toward a shimmering pool at the north end of the village. As she approached, the water formed the image of a handsome man—Sergei von Zarovich—reaching out to embrace her.

Despite sensing the inherent holiness of the pool, the party refused to let Ireena go. Jon acted quickly, grabbing Ireena to hold her back. Simultaneously, Alfbern thrust his Blood Spear into the sacred waters. The disruption instantly banished Sergei's image, severing the connection.

However, this defiance did not go unnoticed. A massive lightning bolt, sent by Strahd himself, crashed down from the sky, striking the pool and entirely desecrating its sacred waters.

Ascending to the Abbey

To prevent any further erratic behavior, Klildar used his magic to put the distraught Ireena to sleep. The party then carried her unconscious form up the treacherous, winding switchback road that led to the Abbey of Saint Markovia.

Upon reaching the North Gate, they found the mongrelfolk guards asleep. After waking them, the guards escorted the party into the foggy courtyard. The session ended on a grim note as the party took in their surroundings: a mysterious figure chained in the courtyard, and chilling, inhuman screams echoing from the nearby stone sheds.

Party Members

• Alfbern - Level 5 Elf Druid (Ziro)
• Klildar - Level 5 White Dragonborn Paladin (Fábio)
• Jon - Level 5 Human Ranger (Ricardo)
• Linus - Level 5 Human Wizard (Daniel)

Important Items/Events

• Vallaki Pacified: Successfully defused the unrest against the burgomaster and honored Fr. Lucian.
• Krezk Entry: Gained access to Krezk thanks to Lavinia's Martikov connections.
• The Pool Desecrated: Prevented Ireena from joining Sergei; Strahd retaliated by destroying the pool's sanctity with a lightning bolt.
• The Abbey: Arrived at the Abbey of Saint Markovia, carrying a sleeping Ireena, and encountered the unsettling mongrelfolk and their prisoners.