05.5 The Dinner

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Session: Dinner with the Devil at Castle Ravenloft

PCs present: Erdan (played by Marcos), Broseph (played by Juan Maldonado), Renoir (played by Nacho). (Paloma was present on the call, but her character did not actively participate in the scenes). NPCs present: Rahadin, Vistani Servants, Strahd von Zarovich. Mentions of Madame Eva, Tatiana, and Ireena.

Major developments and loose ends

Major developments:

• The group arrives at Castle Ravenloft and is received with terrifying hospitality.
• Strahd von Zarovich confirms that the adventurers’ souls have belonged to him from the moment they entered Barovia and that they are trapped in his domain for eternity for his entertainment.
• Strahd grants them permission to wander the castle as his “guests,” but immediately lowers a portcullis, leaving them locked inside.
• Out of character: The characters level up to Level 4 for having fulfilled the milestone of bringing Ireena safely to Vallaki.

Loose ends:

• How will they escape Castle Ravenloft now that the exit portcullis is closed?
• What kind of traps and “ancient creatures” did Strahd mention inhabit the castle?
• What is the exact meaning of the procession of souls marching towards the castle at night, and how will it affect Erdan, who is obsessed with studying them?
• Will they be able to visit Madame Eva if they manage to escape alive, as they promised the Vistani and Strahd?

Session Joke

Session Joke: During the tense dinner, Strahd notices that Renoir smells of Ireena’s perfume and asks if he has tried to deceive him by disguising himself as her. Renoir (Nacho), instead of being scared, proudly admits that using women’s costumes and imitating Ireena’s voice is one of his fun tricks. The table erupts in laughter (and astonishment) when the Dungeon Master describes Strahd being quite pleased with this response, even looking at him with “desire,” creating the ironic and comical situation where the bard has accidentally seduced the vampire dark lord by dressing as his beloved.

Scene 1: Arrival Under the Storm and the Herald of Souls

PCs present: Erdan, Broseph, Renoir. NPCs present:

• Mysterious Coachman (Silent, doesn’t even turn his head to say goodbye; Archetype: Automaton Servant).
• Rahadin (Elf, dark skin, long hair, wears a grey cloak over black studded leather armor and an elegant scimitar at his belt. He is surrounded by an invisible choir of thousands of tormented souls accusing him of having killed them; Archetype: Sinister Servant / Herald of Death).

Place(s): Outer Courtyard, Dragon Vestibule, and Great Hall of Castle Ravenloft. Loot obtained: None. Summary of the scene: The carriage leaves the adventurers in the enormous, misty courtyard of Castle Ravenloft under an increasing rain. The coachman abandons them without a word. Upon entering, they pass through double doors into a vaulted vestibule guarded by four red dragon whelp statues that seem to watch them. They then proceed to a dusty great hall with eight gargoyles on the ceiling. Rahadin, the elven chamberlain, descends the grand staircase. His very presence emits an aura of tormented souls so strong that Renoir takes psychic damage (mitigated by the DM) and becomes terrified. Rahadin, with a forced and chilling smile, welcomes them and guides them to a waiting room before retiring.

Scene 2: The Waiting Room and the Vistani’s Bets

PCs present: Erdan, Broseph, Renoir. NPCs present:

• Vistani Servants (Three women and one man, prepare the banquet while laughing and betting on the adventurers’ imminent death; Archetype: Indifferent Minions).

Place(s): Guest Waiting Room (with ornamental armor and spiral staircase) and doors to the Main Dining Room. Loot obtained: Appetizers (nuts, almonds, raisins, wine). (Note: Renoir loses a silver coin by gifting it to a servant). Summary of the scene: While waiting in a room with appetizers, Erdan stealthily peeks through the half-open doors of the grand dining room and discovers Vistani servants preparing a lavish banquet while laughing and betting that the adventurers will not leave the castle alive. Renoir bursts into the room noisily, greets the servants, tells them of his intention to visit Madame Eva, and, winking to show he has heard them, gives a silver coin to a servant saying, “I bet we get out.” Broseph enters to politely ask for his nut bowl to be refilled. The servants kindly usher them out of the room and leave the castle through the main door. The adventurers wait for a while, investigating the spiral staircase, until a musical din startles them.

Scene 3: Banquet with the God of Barovia

PCs present: Erdan, Broseph, Renoir. NPCs present:

• Strahd von Zarovich (Vampire, wears elegant and dry clothes, although his hair and ring are damp from the rain. Drinks blood from a goblet. Expressive, jaded, cold, arrogant attitude with flashes of absolute evil when imposing his dominion; Archetype: Dark Lord / Self-Proclaimed God).

Place(s): Main Dining Room of Castle Ravenloft (decorated with mirrors, chandeliers, a large table laden with exquisite delicacies, and an imposing pipe organ adorned with statues of writhing souls). Loot obtained: None (manjares and dinner viands are consumed). Summary of the scene: The doors swing open to the sound of an intense melody played on a massive pipe organ. The characters enter and discover Strahd von Zarovich playing masterfully. After an attempt by Renoir to accompany him on the violin, Strahd rises, welcomes them to Barovia, and declares himself lord of all they see. He crudely explains that their souls belong to him and that he has brought them simply to alleviate his eternal boredom. He asks them to entertain him: Broseph introduces himself as an investigative sorcerer, Erdan reluctantly shows him his necromancy spellbook (which Strahd despises as if it were a “notebook for school children”), and Renoir skillfully plays the ocarina.

Strahd speaks to them of the echo of gods and asserts that he is the only God in those lands, showing absolute emptiness when speaking of his lost love, Tatiana. After being pleased by Renoir’s music (and his confession about cross-dressing as Ireena), Strahd grants them his hospitality, allowing them to wander the castle under the warning not to disturb the “ancient creatures.” He majestically withdraws, and, just as he leaves, the group hears the unmistakable sound of a heavy metal portcullis closing, trapping them inside.