The session began with the party preparing to face General Mad Dog and his three hellhounds in the crypt where Mad Dog's treasure was located. They had already found the Tome of Strahd, the Sun Sword, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind.
Combat with Mad Dog's Hellhounds:
- Upon opening the crypt door, combat immediately ensued.
- Esky (Grandma) cast Cone of Cold, damaging the hellhounds.
- A prolonged fight took place, with Redondo (Rogue) utilizing Sneak Attack and moving strategically.
- One hellhound was defeated.
- Grandma cast Guiding Bolt.
- Despite attacks from the remaining hellhounds, the party prevailed, and all three were eventually defeated.
Retrieving the Tome of Strahd and Further Exploration:
- The party confirmed their objective in the crypt was to find the Tome of Strahd, which is described as an ancient work by Strahd himself, detailing his tragic descent. It's bound in leather, with brittle parchment pages mostly in shorthand, but contains some intact paragraphs.
- After the combat, the party continued exploring other crypts in the catacombs.
- They discovered a crypt with a seemingly fresh corpse clutching a staff with brass and marble knobs. By inserting the marble end into a recess in the tomb, they revealed a compartment containing three scrolls: Cone of Cold, Fireball, and Lightning Bolt.
- They encountered an empty and smelly crypt belonging to Sir Jar and Wald the trickster.
- Grandma used Goodberry.
Encounter with the Brides of Strahd:
- The party moved further down and entered a tomb with a shining black coffin. Here, three Brides of Strahd appeared and attacked.
- A fierce battle occurred. Jonas (Redondo) used Uncanny Dodge to mitigate damage and relied on his Sneak Attack.
- Mark (controlled by Radon) attacked with a crossbow while frightened.
- Martha employed Spiritual Weapon and Sacred Flame.
- Esky utilized the Green Flame Blade.
- The Sun Sword dealt extra radiant damage to the Brides.
- One Bride attempted to grapple Esky, but failed.
- The Fear arrived and cast Sacred Flame.
- The Brides suffered damage from sunlight hypersensitivity at the start of their turns.
- A Bride used a legendary action to command Adia to drop the Sun Sword.
- Esky attacked, picked up the Sun Sword, and continued fighting.
- Redondo used Sneak Attack and his Cunning Action to Dash.
- Radon used Divine Favor and attacked.
- A Bride used a legendary action to command Radon to flee.
- Esky seemingly killed one Bride with Green Flame Blade.
- Another Bride tried to grapple Redondo but failed.
- Martha used Eldritch Whip to pull a Bride away from flanking.
- One Bride disengaged and disappeared into the Western Alcove. Redondo followed her.
- Radon investigated Strahd's coffin, finding it empty.
- Grandma found and staked the other two Brides.
Teleportation Mishaps and Strahd's Parents' Tomb:
- Upon entering the alcove where the Bride vanished, Redondo was teleported to a tomb with Argon and the reappeared Vampire.
- The party encountered a shimmering blue curtain of light, flanked by bronze statues.
- Only Is Mark, being lawful good, could pass through the curtain to a tomb containing the coffins of King and Queen Ravenovia, Strahd's parents. The chaotic good and neutral characters were teleported back.
- Is Mark found wax effigies and the skeleton of Strahd's mother in the tomb and desecrated both coffins before leaving.
- Argam cast Dispel Magic on one of the bronze statues, causing the blue curtain of light to disappear.
Sergey's Tomb and Magical Armor:
- The party then proceeded to a tomb with a portcullis, which Redondo squeezed through to open.
- Inside, they found the magically preserved body of Sergey von Zarovich, Strahd's brother, wearing shining +2 plate mail armor.
- Is Mark touched the armor and identified it as magical.
- Adia claimed the +2 plate armor, increasing her Armor Class significantly.
End of Session:
- The session concluded after the party acquired the magical armor.
- They briefly discussed taking a short rest but decided against it to continue their progress.
- The DM ended the session, mentioning that this was all the material prepared for the night.