Ludi Blog

That evening, the party returned to Irena's house to recover from their adventures in the Old Graveyard. Jacob and Marsha healed those who'd been injured and tended to the unnatural burns inflicted by the Golems touch, whilst those who'd survived unharmed turned their attention to an evening meal.

By nightfall, everyone was recovered, and spent some time examining some valuables found in the earth that had formed the golems body. Hugh polished the blade of the sword.

"Whatever we do" said Paffluous over dinner, "we'd better do it quickly. He probably knows we've got the sword now. So we better make a plan."

"What about all this other stuff from Madame Eva?" Isaiah said. All this about his connection to the land and how to break it."

Jacob agreed. "We ought to find out about that - and try to find the holy symbol too". 

"I don't think we've got time" said Bovrain. We ought to get up to the castle before he sends some of his friends down here into the village." Hugh and Irena agreed.

The discussion lasted until that night, but before they retired to bed the party had decided to go up to the castle without further delay. To get inside, to re forge the Light of Steel, and strike. To put an end to source of the evil that has long beset this realm and reached out so very far to touch their own lives so long ago.

Taking no chances, the party decided to sleep in the drawing room that night, stoked up the fire and set a watch. It was a very good idea.

Isaiah's sword detected the presence of undead upstairs. He rose and crept to the doorway looking out into the darkened hall. A creaking footfall upon the stair...

And suddenly two strange and beautiful women stood before him, fine dresses, one black, one white, gems gleaming at their throats, their skin almost translucent, almost luminous in the darkness, long white fangs visible behind their painted lips...

"For Tatyana" Said the first. "A gift or Tatyana" said the second, producing a beautiful necklace of diamond and pearl. Irena knew they were talking about her. The name she's heard in her dreams. She refused the gift and told the women to be gone from her house.

"Come then" said the first. "Come to the master" said the second. "It is time for the answers you seek."

"Questions" Said the first. "Answers" said the second. "Tomorrow at dusk. At the bridge. Your carriage will await".

"The master will have you for dinner." Said the first. And their laughter split the night and they were gone. When Isaiah looked again there was no sign of them, only a thick greenish mist seeping out of the hallway, into the midnight street through the cracks around the door.

And so the next day the party made ready. Weapons were cleaned. Blades sharpened. Armour checked and oiled. Stakes sharpened. Garlic, wolfbane and holy water obtained from Bildrath's Mercantile and Father Danovich. Lamps and torches checked. For heaven forefend that the lights should go out in that dread place.

Double checking their gear, the party made a miraculous discovery. The two metal rings that they'd obtained from the abandoned complex near Santiago Bay revealed a potent magical power. Anything inserted into one ring emerged from the other.

After much experimentation, the party decided that Marsha and Father Danovich would remain behind at the church of the morning and use one of the rings to stay in contact with the party, to send provisions, to cast spells or apply healing, or pass through what tools and equipment they may require during their visit to the castle (or at least that which would fit through an 18" ring).

And then it was time. Time for them to go further than anyone from the Vast had been before. Beyond the shadow of their fathers, and into the unknown.

They took a blessing at the church, said goodbye to Marsha and the priest, and walked out of Barovia under a darkening sky.

End of Book 2

And at the bridge there came the sound of thunder sleek and black,

A carriage with an ebon car, a coachman at its back

The door it creake'd open

The harness it did crack

And up the road to Ravenloft

The coachman thundered back...