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04 The Burgomaster's Funeral and the Secret of the Church

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Session Summary: The Burgomaster’s Funeral and the Secret of the Church

PCs present: Pulgar (Juan Casanova), Ceres (Paloma), Broseph (Juan Maldonado), Erdan (Marcos), Renoir (Nacho), Ladril Gabriel (Álvaro - mentioned/assumes role in the plan). NPCs present: Ismark, Ireena/Irina, Father Donavich, Doru (heard), Mari. Locations: Barovia (Burgomaster’s Mansion, Church and Cemetery, Mari’s House).

Main Developments and Loose Ends

The group managed to discover the horrors hidden in the apparent tranquility of the village of Barovia before officiating the Burgomaster’s funeral. A master deception plan (“the switcheroo”) was devised to safely get Ireena out of town, using Renoir dressed as a woman as bait for Strahd. They discovered that the local priest keeps his son, transformed into a vampiric spawn, locked in the church basement, and that a young woman named Gertruda has fled from her overprotective mother. Finally, the Burgomaster was buried and the group prepares to depart for Balaquia or the settlement of Santa Barovia.

Session Loose Ends

Session Gag

“Paco Porras the Bard / Guppy Goldberg”: At the beginning of the session, Nacho completely forgets which Tarokka cards he drew in his great prophetic reading from the previous session. Faced with the group’s taunts about his “30-second memory” and his role in the group, Nacho accepts his fate and proclaims himself “Guppy Goldberg the Bard” or “Paco Porras the Bard” (referencing flamboyant Spanish television psychics), assuming the role of a mad seer and bard. Later, to cover up his forgetfulness, he invents a rather convenient “premonitory dream” to guide the group. Honorable mention to Pulgar’s plan to put Ireena’s panties on Renoir to use him as a decoy in the carriage.

Scene Breakdown

Scene 1: Preparations, Autopsies, and False Prophecies

PCs present: Pulgar, Ceres, Erdan, Renoir. NPCs present: Ismark (Sturdy, muscular, noble movements, militarized and protective attitude - Archetype: The Loyal Son / Noble Warrior), Ireena (Angelic face, dressed entirely in mourning with a black veil, stubborn and dignified - Archetype: Tragic Damsel / Proud Noble). Location(s): Burgomaster’s Mansion (Barovia). Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: Erdan shares his ancient knowledge of vampires, explaining that they are creatures of darkness that heal quickly, drink blood, and cannot cross rivers. Pulgar proposes an unorthodox plan: the druid (in horse form) and the paladin will secretly take Ireena out, while the rest of the group goes in the carriage with Renoir disguised in Ireena’s clothes to attract Strahd’s ambushes. Erdan asks Ismark for permission to examine his father’s corpse magically and medically. After a diplomatic intercession from Renoir, Ismark reluctantly agrees. Erdan detects no magic or poison, confirming that the death appears natural (perhaps from fright or stress). The next morning, Renoir (to cover up his forgotten cards) invents a prophetic “dream” about a blinding light protecting the innocent, urging the group to visit the priest before the funeral.

Scene 2: Exploring the Church

PCs present: Pulgar, Ceres, Erdan, Broseph. NPCs present: Donavich (Tired and broken voice praying - Archetype: Desperate Priest), Doru (Banging wood from the sub-basement, shouting distressed and hungry - Archetype: Hidden Monster). Location(s): Exterior and interior of the ruined church (Barovia). Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: While Renoir accompanies Ismark to notify the neighbors of the funeral, the rest of the group proceeds to the church, which is half-ruined and has boarded-up windows. Pulgar, using his stealth, circles around and peers through the cracks of a window. He sees a destroyed chapel lit by candles and hears Father Donavich begging the god Lathander for the soul of “Doru.” Suddenly, Pulgar hears loud banging coming from the sub-basement and a guttural voice screaming, “I’m hungry, Father!” Pulgar returns and informs the group, suspecting that the humans are hiding very dark things.

Scene 3: Father Donavich’s Secret

PCs present: Pulgar, Ceres, Erdan, Broseph. NPCs present: Father Donavich (Man with dark circles under his eyes, dirty, disheveled, mentally broken, insane but harmless gaze - Archetype: Tragic Father / Blind Fanatic). Location(s): Chapel and church rooms (Barovia). Loot obtained: A book titled “The Sword of Truth, The Uses of Logic in War Against Diabolical Energies as Applied by the Inquisition of Ulmiz” (Looted by Pulgar). Scene Summary: Ceres picks the lock and uses Thaumaturgy to enter illuminated by an angelic halo, trying to comfort the priest. Erdan casts Detect Thoughts and perceives the man’s madness and sadness. Donavich confesses that a year ago, a man in black led the village youths (including his 20-year-old son Doru) against Strahd’s castle. They all died, but Doru returned as a monster that feeds on blood. Ceres tells him bluntly that his son is undead and that the only real help is to end his suffering. Terrified that his son will be killed, Donavich locks the basement trapdoor and refuses to feed or kill him, preferring to wait for a miracle from Lathander. Ceres manages to persuade him not to feed Doru while they seek another solution. As they discuss, Pulgar sneaks into the priest’s office and steals a book about inquisitions and imps.

Scene 4: Mari’s Cry

PCs present: Renoir. NPCs present: Mari (Distraught woman, clutching a creepy doll - Archetype: Enraged Mother / Tragic Villager). Location(s): Mari’s House (Barovia). Loot obtained: None material (Information: “Blinsky” brand dolls). Scene Summary: Renoir, walking through the village, hears crying coming from a house. Finding the door locked, he forces his way in by climbing through a window to the second floor. There he finds Mari, a woman crying on the bed clutching a monstrous doll. Mari confesses that her daughter Gertruda, whom she had kept hidden from the village for 17 years to protect her, packed a bundle and fled four nights ago, stealing her key. The woman is convinced her daughter is dead or in Strahd’s hands. Renoir investigates the room, confirming the young woman’s premeditated escape. He also examines the doll, discovering a tag that reads: “If it isn’t fun, it isn’t a Blinsky”, a famous local toy maker. Mari refuses to give him the doll as a clue, and Renoir leaves, taking notes of everything.

Scene 5: The Burial and Departure

PCs present: Pulgar, Ceres, Erdan, Renoir, Broseph. NPCs present: Ismark, Ireena, Father Donavich. Location(s): Barovia Cemetery. Loot obtained: Silvered short sword (Given by Ireena to Renoir). Scene Summary: The group reunites and carries the Burgomaster’s coffin to the cemetery, accompanied by a few apathetic villagers. A somber ceremony is officiated where Ireena mourns her father’s loss. Donavich, amazed by the presence of a dwarf and an elf (races he has only seen as ghosts marching towards Ravenloft), advises them on their journey: he recommends they not stop in the city of Balaquia (Vallaki) and continue west to a settlement in Brescia called Santa Barovia (Krezk), where there will be a strong church that will protect Ireena. With their destination set, the group executes their plan: Ireena, disguised, gives her silvered short sword to Renoir after he promises to take care of her. The group prepares to leave Barovia’s mist and begin their journey through the domain’s dangerous roads.