Chapter One: Barovia, Beyond The Mists of Ravenloft
The party are now in the Lands of Barovia.
The Old Svalich Road:
Black pools of water stand like dark mirrors about the muddy roadway. Thick, cold mists spread pallor over the road. Giant tree trunks stand on both sides of the road, their branches clawing into the mists.
In every direction the mists grow thicker and the forest grows more oppressive.
Frimly climbs a tree and can see a large set of gates.
The Gates of Barovia:
Jutting from the impenetrable woods on both sides of the road, high stone buttresses loom up grey in the fog. Huge iron gates hang on the stonework. Dew clings with cold tenacity to the rusted bars. Two statues of armed guardians silently flank the gate. Their heads, missing from their shoulders, now lie among the weeds at their feet. They greet you only with silence.
The Svalich Woods:
Towering trees, whose tops are lost in heavy grey mist, block out all save a death-grey light.
The tree trunks almost touch. The thick, damp undergrowth presses in on you, making it impossible even to see one another at all times. The woods have the silence of a forgotten grave, yet exude the feeling of an unsounded scream.
Dead Body and Horse:
You hear the noise of squealing Ravens and catch the scent of death on the air.
The foul scent leads you to a human corpse about 100’ feet from the road. Around the body are 6 Ghouls feeding on the corpse. There are also another 8 Ghouls feeding on the poor human’s horse.
The young man, a commoner, appears to have been dragged here. His muddy clothes are torn and raked with claw marks. Crows have been at the body, which is surrounded by the paw prints. The man has obviously been dead for several days. He holds a crumpled envelope in one hand.
The party moves towards the bodies directly.
Ghouls and a Ghast attack. Mirafir cast Fly and Bat Wings appear at his ankles.
The letter below is found in the dead hand of Olge Diminski.
Burgomaster Letter:
Hail thee of might and valour:
I, the Burgomaster of Barovia send you honour with despair.
My adopted daughter, the fair Ireena, has been these past nights bitten by a creature calling its race “Vampyr.” For over 400 years he has drained this land of the life-blood of its people. Now, my dear Ireena languishes and dies from an unholy wound caused by this vile beast. Yet I fear, too, that the creature has some more cunning plan in mind. He has become too powerful to be fought any longer.
So I say to you, give us up for dead and encircle this land with the symbols of good. Let holy men call upon their power that the evil one may be contained within the walls of weeping Barovia. Leave our sorrows to our graves, and save the world from this evil fate of ours.
There is much wealth entrapped in this community. Return for your reward after we are all departed for a better life.
Kolyan Indrirovich
Burgomaster
The party come across an encounter.
Torchlight in the Svalich Woods:
Several hundred yards away, through the fog, you see a flickering torchlight.
Mirafir follows, as he is flying, and the torches go out as he draws closer. He continues to follow in the direction they were heading and discovers a ruined tower. The main doorway is blocked and the only way in is, via stairs, at the top of the tower. Mirafir has a quick look and flies back to the party.
The party reach the outskirts of the Village of Barovia.
