The Abbot's Hospitality

Summary

Escorted through the Abbey of Saint Markovia's foggy courtyard by the mongrelfolk Otto and Zygfrek, the party was met by the screams of the caged and the sight of chained, bat-like mongrelfolk. When Ireena woke she revealed that she remembered everything: her life as Tatyana, her centuries of attempts to escape Strahd, and that this latest escape was the first real chance she had ever been given — until the party denied it at the pool. The Abbot arrived as she finished speaking, cordially received her request for shelter, and invited them inside, where he introduced the scarred, silent Vasilka and led the party on a tour that took them past a two-headed cellist, a shrouded body on a table, and a half-truth.

The Courtyard

Otto and Zygfrek escorted the party into the courtyard — Otto chatty, Zygfrek silent. The party passed the small rooms, heard the screams echoing from the sheds, and saw the bat-like mongrelfolk chained in the fog. Otto went inside the main building to fetch the Abbot.

Ireena's Revelation

Ireena woke, still deeply frustrated with the party, and finally told them what she remembered. She knew now who she was — Tatyana — and she recounted the centuries of attempts to escape Strahd's grasp. Their intervention at the pool had denied her the first real chance she had ever had.

The Abbot arrived as she was finishing. Ireena introduced herself, gave him a quick summary of her fate, and asked him for shelter. He was cordial, though not warm, and invited them into the main building.

On the way in, Klildar peeked into one of the rooms and saw a mongrelfolk with a rat's face, rough boar-like fur, and chicken feet. Alfbern was deeply stirred by all of it — the place felt deeply unnatural to him.

Inside the Abbey

In the main hall they met Vasilka, and noticed — Alfbern most of all — that her face was heavily scarred and covered in makeup. From somewhere above came the sound of gentle music.

Alfbern questioned the Abbot about the mongrelfolk, and the Abbot replied simply that this was their nature. Ireena spoke further of her story, and when Strahd's obsession with her was mentioned, Alfbern noticed a flicker of interest beneath the Abbot's otherwise indifferent demeanor.

The Abbot asked the party to accompany him on a tour of the premises while a soup cooked in a cauldron on the hearth.

The Tour

The Abbot led them up the stairs, where they met Clovin, his two-headed manservant — clearly intoxicated, playing a cello with a giant crab's claw for a bow. He was a little surprised by the entourage, but not much fazed by it.

The group noticed a body-shaped volume lying on a table, covered by a dark shroud. When questioned, the Abbot explained that the abbey had responsibilities toward the community, one of them being that of a mortuary. Alfbern read it as a half-truth.

The History of the Abbey

The Abbot shared some of the abbey's history. It was founded by Saint Markovia, originally a priestess of the Morninglord who ascended to sainthood and fought Strahd centuries ago. Though the vampire slew her, she left behind a sacred, blessed pool in the village.

At the mention of the pool, the party shared the news that it had been desecrated by a lightning bolt — carefully omitting that the strike had been provoked by their own defiance. They laid the blame on Strahd and reported that he appeared to be on his way to Krezk.

The Abbot muttered something about running out of time.

Those Who Stayed Behind

Ireena refused to join the tour, still too upset, and stayed behind with Vasilka. Jon and Alvorada offered to stay as well, to keep an eye on her.

Downstairs, Ireena vented to Vasilka and tried to ignore Jon — but Vasilka never spoke a single word. Her demeanor was courteous throughout. Alvorada tried to pull down Vasilka's cloak to get a closer look at her, and partially succeeded: startled, Vasilka rose and revealed a little more of herself. Jon saw that what he had taken for scars were in fact stitches — different body parts sewn together.

Party Members

• Alfbern - Level 6 Elf Druid (Ziro)
• Klildar - Level 6 White Dragonborn Paladin (Fábio)
• Jon - Level 6 Human Ranger (Ricardo)
• Linus - Level 6 Human Wizard (Daniel)

Important Items/Events

• Audience with the Abbot: The Abbot of the Abbey of Saint Markovia received Ireena's request for shelter cordially, though without warmth, and invited the party inside.
• Ireena's Revelation: Ireena remembers her life as Tatyana and her centuries of failed escapes from Strahd; the pool was the first real chance she was ever given — and the party denied it.
• Vasilka: A silent, heavily scarred woman in the Abbot's care; her "scars" are stitches joining mismatched body parts.
• Saint Markovia: Founder of the abbey — a priestess of the Morninglord who ascended to sainthood and fought Strahd centuries ago. She was slain by the vampire, but left behind a sacred, blessed pool in the village.
• The Desecrated Pool: The party told the Abbot that Strahd's lightning bolt destroyed the pool and that the Count appeared headed to Krezk — omitting that their own defiance provoked the strike.
• Running Out of Time: On hearing of the pool's destruction, the Abbot muttered that he was running out of time.
• Clovin: The Abbot's two-headed manservant — intoxicated, playing a cello with a giant crab's claw for a bow.
• The Shrouded Body: A body-shaped volume on a table upstairs, covered by a dark shroud; the Abbot claimed it fell under the abbey's mortuary duties. Alfbern sensed a half-truth.
• The Mongrelfolk: Otto and Zygfrek escorted the party; the abbey keeps chained, bat-like mongrelfolk in the sheds.
• Strahd's Interest: Mention of Strahd's obsession with Ireena drew a flicker of interest from the otherwise indifferent Abbot.

Original Notes

• Otto and Zygfrek escorted the party to the Courtyard, Otto was very chatty, while Zygfrek was quiet
• The party saw the small rooms, heard the screams, saw the bat-like mongrelfolk chained
• Otto went inside to fetch the Abbot
• Ireena woke up, still very frustrated with the party, she told them that she remembers who she was (Tatiana) and how she tried to escape Strahd's grasp over the centuries and this time was the first real on that she had, but was denied
• The Abbot arrived while she was finishing speaking
• Ireena introduced herself and gave the Abbot a quick summary of her fate and asked for shelter
• He was cordial, but not too friendly, and invited them into the main building
• On their way into the building Klildar peeked into one of the rooms and saw a mongrelfolk with a Rat-face, rough boar-like fur and chicken feet
• Alfbern was deeply stirred by all of that, which seemed unnatural to him
• In the Main Hall they met Vasilka, and noticed (Alfbern mostly) her face heavily scarred and wearing makeup
• They also heard a gentle-sounding music coming from above
• Alfbern questioned the Abbot about the mongrelfolk, to which he replied that this was their nature
• Ireena spoke a bit more details of her story, and when Strahd's obsession on her was mentioned, Alfbern noticed a slight sign of interest to an otherwise indifferent disposition
• The Abbot then asked the party to accompany him in a Tour of the premisses, while the dinner (soup) was cooking in a cauldron in the hearth
• Ireena didn't want to go with the party, she was still very much upset, and instead stayed behind with Vasilka. Jon and Alvorada also offered to stay, to keep an eye on Ireena
• The Abbot took them up the stairs where they met Clovin, his two-headed manservant. He was clearly intoxicated, playing a cello (a giant crab's claw holding the arc). He was a bit surprised with the entourage, but not much fazed
• The group noticed a body-shaped volume laying on a table, covered by a dark shroud. When inquired the Abbot said that they there had responsibilities with the community, one of them being of a mortuary. Alfbern caught that as a a half-truth
• Downstairs Ireena was venting off to Vasilka and trying to ignore Jon. However Vasilka didn't speak at all. She had a very courteous demeanor but still didn't speak a single word
• Jon tried to get Alvorada to pull down her cloak, in order to inspect her in more details, but failed partially. She got up, startled and revealed a bit more of her appearance, Jon noticed that the scars were in reality stitches from what seemed different body parts sewn together
• The Abbot shared a bit of history of the Abbey. How it was founded by St. Markovia, originally a priestess of the Morninglord that ascended to sainthood and fought Strahd centuries ago. Even though she was slain by the vampire, she left a sacred blessed pool in the vilage
• By the mention of the pool, the party shared the news that it was desecrated by a lightning bolt, but didn't said it was their fault. They said that Strahd was responsible and that it seems that he was on his way to Krezk. The Abbot muttered something about running out of time