04.5 The Flight from Barovia

Here is the English translation of your text, without any additions or inventions:

Session Summary: The Flight from Barovia

PCs present: Feyre (played by Rocío). Note: Although the rest of the group (Pulgar, Ceres, Broseph, Ladril Gabriel, Hulio, Erdan) are mentioned, this was a solo session played by Feyre. NPCs present: Irena (burgomaster’s daughter), Vistani, Strahd von Zarovich, Vallaki Guards. Locations: Barovia, Old Svalich Road, Lake Zarovich (mentioned), Castle Ravenloft (seen in the distance), Vallaki (mentioned as Balaqui/Balaquia).

Main Developments and Loose Ends

Feyre, transformed into a horse, successfully escorts Irena from the village of Barovia to the fortified town of Vallaki. During the journey, they manage to survive an ambush by wolves, an unnatural magical storm, and a direct encounter with the lord of the region himself, Strahd von Zarovich. Thanks to the intervention of a mysterious flock of crows and Irena’s persuasion at the town gates, they manage to find safety, at least temporarily.

Loose ends:

• Who or what was the amorphous figure with the plague doctor mask that awaited them in the black carriage near the turnoff to Castle Ravenloft?
• Who was the intelligent, mysterious crow that helped them in the cabin? Feyre suspects it might be a high-level allied druid.
• The Vistani on the road whom Feyre nearly runs over and who cursed them may hold a grudge in the future.
• Strahd now knows Irena has fled and is furious at not being invited to the cabin. The rest of the group (who are traveling on foot behind them) will surely run into him or suffer the consequences of this escape.
• Why exactly did the previous group take Feyre’s sword (which turns out to be a silver rapier) from her using the excuse that it was a “symbol”?

Session Joke

Towards the end of the game, as the DM (Nemo) and Rocío were enthusiastically discussing how the rest of the group was going to suffer their encounter with Strahd in the official Wednesday game, Nemo suddenly realized there was another player connected to the Discord voice channel, secretly listening to the secret session. Nemo’s genuine reaction (“Shit, the monkey is here, fucking spy!”) and Rocío’s suggestion to hide the game video so as not to spoil the surprise generated the best and funniest meta moment of the night.

Scenes

Scene 1: Galloping Away

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present: Irena (Determined, practical woman with a lot of personality. She hides her face with a scarf and helmet to avoid recognition. Not a fussy damsel. Archetype: The brave protectee / Damsel not in distress). Location(s): Village of Barovia, road to the south, and bridge over a clear river. Loot obtained: None (in fact, Feyre’s silver rapier was taken from her before they left). Scene Summary: After her father’s funeral, Irena prepares to leave Barovia. As Feyre’s sword was taken under the guise of using it as a symbol for a costume, Irena must carry a weapon for defense. Feyre transforms into a riding horse, a saddle is placed on her, and Irena mounts her. They leave the village, crossing a bridge over a clear river, beginning their long journey along the winding Svalich Road.

Scene 2: The Crossroads and the Vistani Curse

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present: Vistani (Five nomadic humans in gypsy-like attire, servants of the dark lord and the only ones capable of crossing the cursed fog. Archetype: Mysterious outsiders / Minions). Location(s): Intersection of the river with an old gallows and mist-shrouded graves. Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: Upon reaching a crossroads marked by a gallows with a frayed rope, they decide to ignore the path towards Lake Zarovich (home of Madame Eva) and continue west towards Vallaki. Shortly after, they come head-on with a group of five Vistani pulling a mule and a cart. Feyre decides not to slow down and speeds past, nearly hitting one of them. The man moves aside at the last second, cursing them loudly while another makes a move to throw a stone that falls short.

Scene 3: The Carriage of Red Eyes

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present: Strahd’s Emissary (Amorphous figure, small, wrapped in a dark coat and wearing a long-nosed plague doctor mask. Archetype: The sinister herald). Location(s): Fallen gates marking the boundaries of Barovia and the turnoff to Castle Ravenloft. Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: After an hour and a half of riding, they spot the imposing Castle Ravenloft looming on the mountain in the distance. Upon reaching the fork leading to the castle, they encounter a terrifying black carriage pulled by dark horses with red eyes that exhale mist from their muzzles. Atop the carriage awaits a masked creature that raises its hand, attempting to deliver a message, but Feyre, terrified, speeds past, ignoring it completely and crossing the ruined gates to exit the initial valley.

Scene 4: The Climate of Terror and the Wolves

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present: Wild wolves (Forest beasts. Archetype: Predators / Servants of darkness). Location(s): Forests and hills on the old road. Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: The daylight sky darkens unnaturally in a matter of minutes. A torrential downpour, accompanied by lightning and thunder, turns day into night. Irena, looking at the sky, recognizes in terror that this is the work of “Strahd.” As they ride through the downpour, Feyre senses that a pack of wolves is ambushing them from the thicket. Reacting in time, Feyre accelerates and manages to outrun the beasts before they can reach their legs.

Scene 5: The Gallows’ Shelter and the Lord of Barovia

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present:

• Strahd von Zarovich (Noble, regal, and pale figure. He wears no armor, a soaked cloak, and his eyes glow red. He controls the weather at will, and his presence radiates mystical terror. Archetype: The Dark Lord / Relentless Villain).
• Mysterious Crow (Bird with an intelligent gaze, capable of understanding speech and communicating. Archetype: The unexpected ally / Nature’s guide). Location(s): An elevated road and an abandoned stone and wood mountain shelter (containing the corpse of a hanged man). Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: Strahd appears before them, leaping from a cliff onto the road. To Irena’s terror, Feyre tries to turn back and flee, but Strahd throws magical projectiles that severely wound Feyre (still in horse form). They manage to take refuge in a dark mountain cabin, only to discover the corpse of a hanged man swaying from the rafters. Strahd arrives at the door and, in a polite but menacing tone, demands entry to reclaim “what is his.” Feyre refuses to invite him in. At that moment, a very intelligent crow enters through a crack. Feyre (using Animal Handling) communicates with it. The bird flies outside and summons a vast horde of crows that attack Strahd. While the vampire defends himself from the birds (and giant bats that appear to assist him), Feyre transforms back into a horse and flees at full gallop with Irena.

Scene 6: The Gates of Vallaki

PCs present: Feyre. NPCs present: Irena. Vallaki Guards (Grim soldiers watching from atop a palisade. Archetype: The border guards). Location(s): Exterior and fortified gates of Vallaki (Balaqui). Loot obtained: None. Scene Summary: After ignoring a detour towards an old mill, they finally spot the town of Vallaki. It is a burgh surrounded by a 5-meter wooden palisade, with watchtowers, torches, and wolf heads impaled on pikes in front of the iron gates. They arrive exhausted and soaked, but the gates are closed for the night. The guards refuse to open, following regulations, but Irena reveals her identity as the daughter of the burgomaster of Barovia and uses all her persuasion (and subtle threats) to convince them. The guards finally yield, opening the heavy gates and allowing both to find refuge within the town walls.