03 Welcome to Barovia Blood and Silence

Here is the summary of the session based on the provided transcript:

Welcome to Barovia: Blood and Silence

PCs present: Broseph, Ceres, Feyre, Sir Gabriel (Ladril), Hulio, Renoir (played by Nacho).

NPCs present: Biltrad (Merchant), Parry (Merchant’s assistant), Arik (Innkeeper), Three Vistani women, Ismark Kolyanovich (Ismark “the Younger”), Ireena Kolyana.

Main Developments and Loose Ends: The group has finally arrived in the village of Barovia, finding a grim place with perpetual fog and terrified inhabitants who are barricading themselves in their homes. They managed to obtain provisions at exorbitant prices and met Ismark, the son of the recently deceased Burgomaster. Ismark revealed that the vampire Strahd is obsessed with his adopted sister, Ireena, whom he has already bitten twice. The group has agreed to help Ismark take his father’s body to the church for burial and then escort Ireena to the walled city of Vallaki for her safety.

Loose Ends from the Session:

• Mari’s Crying: A woman named Mari is heard crying inconsolably in a house near the square, but the group has not investigated the exact cause or interacted with her.
• Madame Eva’s Prophecy: The Vistani women at the inn have indicated to Renoir that he possesses a “gift of premonition” and urged him to visit Madame Eva at the gypsy camp (near Tser Pools) to learn more about his destiny.
• The Burial: The group plans to bury the Burgomaster at dawn before leaving for Vallaki.

Session Joke: Broseph (Juan Casanova) repeatedly tries to make a pun with the name of the inn, calling it “Weak Blood” instead of “Blood of the Vine.” When he finally tells the joke to Arik, the innkeeper (“Bloodless blood… Weak blood”), Arik looks at him with complete indifference, not understanding the joke and simply asking if he wants a pitcher or a glass, creating a moment of comedic awkwardness due to the Barovians’ lack of humor.

Scene 1: Shadows on the Road

PCs present: All. NPCs present: None. Location: The forests on the outskirts of the village and the main road. Loot: None.

Summary: After dealing with a corpse found in the forest and deciding not to take a short rest, the group advances through the fog. Feyre (in bear form) accompanies the group while Broseph comments on the strangeness of bringing a bear to a town. As they move west, the forest opens into a clearing, and they glimpse the first buildings with strange and grim architecture. Night falls as they enter the village of Barovia.

Scene 2: The Ghost Town

PCs present: All. NPCs present: Anonymous Villager (fleeing). Location: Streets of the village of Barovia. Loot: None.

Summary: The group enters a silent, fog-covered village. They observe that many houses are barricaded from the outside and have claw marks (some from wolves, others from humanoids) on doors and walls. Cries of a woman are heard in the distance. Broseph tries to talk to a villager who hurries into his house, but he is ignored, and the door slams shut in his face. Renoir tries to play the violin to attract attention, but only succeeds in intensifying the woman’s crying momentarily.

Scene 3: Business at Biltrad’s Provisions

PCs present: All. NPCs present: Biltrad (Merchant, middle-aged man, broken face, unfriendly), Parry (Young assistant in leather armor). Location: “Biltrad’s Provisions” shop, in the village square. Loot: 10 travel rations (Purchased in exchange for 2 gold rings).

Summary: The group goes to the only open shop, knocking until they are let in. Biltrad, the owner, is reluctant to sell and warns that there are no travelers in Barovia. He sells his merchandise at ten times the normal price, claiming that “he is the market.” Broseph negotiates by giving two gold rings in exchange for 10 travel rations, given the group’s concern about the lack of supplies and their inability to hunt in an unknown environment.

Scene 4: The “Blood of the Vine” Inn

PCs present: All. NPCs present: Arik (Innkeeper, man of few words, indifferent), Three Vistani women (Owners, adult, mysterious), Ismark “the Younger” (Noble, tired but well-dressed, “Desperate Ally” archetype). Location: Inn in the village square. Loot: Information about Madame Eva.

Summary: The group enters the inn, a run-down place. Renoir tells a story to the Vistani owners, who, pleased, reveal that he must seek out Madame Eva to understand his gift of premonition. Meanwhile, the rest of the group sits with Ismark, who was drinking alone. Ismark reveals that he is the son of the Burgomaster, who died two days ago due to Strahd’s siege. The vampire is obsessed with his sister, Ireena, and the village is no longer safe. Ismark asks for help burying his father and getting his sister out of there.

Scene 5: The Burgomaster’s Mansion

PCs present: All. NPCs present: Ireena Kolyana (Young noblewoman, beautiful, armed and in chain mail, “Warrior Damsel” archetype), Burgomaster’s Corpse. Location: Kolyana family mansion, south of the village. Loot: None (the house has been stripped of value).

Summary: The group accompanies Ismark to his mansion, which shows signs of siege (claw marks, burns, boarded-up windows). Ireena receives them with sword in hand, suspicious, until Ismark calms her. Inside, the group sees the Burgomaster’s makeshift coffin. Ireena confirms that Strahd has bitten her twice and that he has some mental control over her, making her invite him in. The group debates whether to leave immediately or wait for the burial; they finally agree to spend the night in the mansion, help with the burial at dawn in Father Donavich’s church, and then depart for Vallaki. Broseph searches for valuables or diaries unsuccessfully, while Ceres prays for the deceased.